I used it and it was just as I thought, sort of useless. (Whom was it that said it would stream TV from another room to your Wii U? I told you so. I told you so. I told you so. Okay, time to be sort of serious. xD) Yeah, I can turn on my console to have it change channels for me when my remote can do the same thing. I really do not see the value in wasting electricity having a console on to watch something being provided from my receiver. Hooray, I can post comments on Miiverse, Twitter, or Facebook while watching TV. Yet if I wanted to do that I could just use my computer or cellphone for the two if I had accounts for either & soon enough use Miiverse on either device as well. (More so my cellphone if I was going to use anything to post considering it is always on ready for a call or quick searches out and about) I guess, the only benefit would be someone cyber stalking you of what shows your watching? Though if the show is live with no advertisements are you really going to look away if you're interested in said show? Seems more like a distraction & utterly useless when watching television in my opinion.
Yes it supports DirecTV channels.
I don't know about you but I'd rather have everything on one screen/remote. Why would I not take advantage of the opportunity to meld all my devices into one user interface. I can now seemlessly switch from Netflix to TV to searching the internet, to Hulu. This sounds like a great bonus to the Wii U, it doesnt need it for me to get a Wii U but I'll take it.