(Also not a good sign was that one of the three reviews on the Apple App Store regarding the iPad software that goes with this also mentioned a sticking button on an item that had to be returned.)Indicator lights and other indications that the unit was working internally all seemed to be okay

Well, the software is downloaded from their site, so it's going to be the same software (at least until it is updated--most recent update seems to have been February 2015)