Controller having reduced control key set and method for operating same in a learning, macro, or cloning mode

A configurable controller system, including:

• a wall-mountable subassembly having a surface, and including configurable circuitry including a first switch set in a first region of the surface, a second switch set in a second region of the surface distinct from the first region, and a third switch set in a third region of the surface distinct from each of the first region and the second region;
• a first control key insert, including a first control key set and configured to be removably mounted to the subassembly with the first control key set positioned over a first switch subset of the first switch set;
• a second control key insert, including a second control key set and configured to be removably mounted to the subassembly in place of the first control key insert with the second control key set positioned over a second switch subset of the first switch set;
• a third control key insert, including a third control key set and configured to be removably mounted to the subassembly with the third control key set positioned over a first switch subset of the second switch set;
• a fourth control key insert, including a fourth control key set and configured to be removably mounted to the subassembly in place of the third control key insert with the fourth control key set positioned over a second switch subset of the second switch set;
• and
• a fifih control key insert, including a fifih control key set and configured to be removably mounted to the subassembly with the fifih control key set positioned over the third switch set,
• wherein the circuitry is configurable to perform a first set of control operations of a first type in response to actuation of switches of the first switch subset of the first switch set, a second set of control operations of the first type in response to actuation of switches of the second switch subset of the first switch set, a first set of control operations of a second type in response to actuation of switches of the first switch subset of the second switch set, a second set of control operations of the second type in response to actuation of switches of the second switch subset of the second switch set, and at least one control operation of a third type in response to actuation of each switch of the third switch set, whereby the system can be configured to emulate any of a number of different controllers that perform at least one control operation of the first type, at least one control operation of the second type, and at least one control operation of the third type, and wherein the first control key insert is configured so as not to be mountable to the subassembly with the first control key set positioned over the second switch set and so as not to be mountable to the subassembly with the first control key set positioned over the third switch set, and the second control key insert is configured so as not to be removably mounted to the subassembly with the second control key set positioned over the second switch set and so as not to be removably mounted to the subassembly with the second control key set positioned over the third switch set.