The "why" would be based upon a statement that only a certain model of remote (IE: the 10.1 remote) is capable of working with this unit. If the answer you have given is so, then there is something that also makes the 10.1 remote not work as a standalone remote for any dish product. And with that in mind it would also preclude someone from acquiring the 10.1 remote on the used market to attempt to use with only a dish reciever.
Of course I am not running any Dish Sat receiver anymore. However I am running a Dish DVR Pal and the Channel master version of it in the house on 2 different TV's and was attempting to use this to extend the control of one of the units (of course niether has UHF capabaility but work well with my cling box). All of the Dish remotes (6.3 and 21.0 both UHF) that I have work well with both of the devices, but I was not able to get them to work thru the UHF to IR device and so from what has been discussed I am then working to locate a 10.1 remote to make this work.
Ted...