My MX-500 is Ver1.01.001 (010413)

I have one of the first ones available without the gemstone buttons and with the original joystick/select button.
I sent it back for a firmware update once to solve a problem with learning some codes.
Still works fine with all of my equipment.

Any significant improvements in later firmware?
Can you still clone between newer and older firmware versions?
If I replace my MX-500 with a new one I hope I can just copy my current config and continue to use IRCLONE.