After playing around with Virtual box on a Ubuntu machine, I decided to try to test install KnoppMyth in a virtual machine and it worked. However, I have not tested LIRC and performance is hard to judge. I will now proof my front end upgrade procedures with it, so that I can take the smoothest path to R5.5 on my "real" front ends.
No disturbances in TV watching or recording is crucial to my survival, as I have a teenage daughter.
Cheers, /Chris