Thanks for replying.

I actually posted this problem first in firecore's forums but never received a reply, so I then posted here.

I thought the "Legacy mode" was essential for computer running Snow Leopard because some Apple Remote/Front Row bugs appeared in Snow Leopard and were never fixed.

I've got one of the older white plastic Apple remotes and I'm wondering if something else is interfering with my remote. Rowmote works perfectly: scrolling is fast and clicking is responsive. With the plastic Apple Remote, I have to press slowly and deliberately and the remote will no longer scroll quickly through menu if I hold down the Up/Down buttons. I have to repeatedly click to get through long lists and it takes forever.

This problem, which started recently, occurs in XBMC, Plex, and Front Row, but only with the Apple Remote, not with Rowmote on my iPhone.