Question on remote VFD panel usage

As some of you are aware, I've been fine tuning a design for a
control pendant using a keyboard emulator.

I've been looking at variable frequency drives for my motor and came
across the MA7200 series by Teco-Westinghouse:

http://www.tecowestinghouse.com/PDF/Ma7200.pdf

It's got sensorless vector, pulse train, a bunch of I/O's and a
remoteable control panel.
Does anyone have any experience with this drive?
Does anyone have any feedback on the idea to use the remote panel
attached to the pendant instead of some of the "hard" switches? Is
there a way to use the analog (or relay contact) outputs to indicate
the speed changes to MACH2? Especially if this can be done in
conjunction with the forward/reverse indication to MACH2, it would
reduce the switch clutter on the pendant and provide an attractive
alternative to the motor control functions.

Anyone ever try this (or is it pie in the sky)?

Regards,
Jeff