Okay, so just an update to this issue is that I have come across some related issues that may or may not be an inherent flaw with the remote itself: The first is in my Fire Stick device. The "back" button works, but I have to hit it sometimes 5 or 10 times (whether pointing at the TV or not) before is works. I have tested this on the stock remote as well as the more advanced remote Amazon created for the Fire Stick that I purchased about a month before buying the U1, which is called the Alexa Voice Remote Pro.
I will try to keep track of any other buttons or functions I find with the U1. Don't get me wrong, it's still a great remote, and I am hoping this is just a matter of maybe using the "Learn" function or perhaps finding alternate devices in the U1's database for the stock devices that the U1 app chooses by default when I program the remote.