I have a Beta with a wireless remote, and you can operate ot from quite a distance. Those VCRs with wired remotes didn't ahve many functions. I can remember one unit, perhaps this one that had 12 preset channels for programming your favorite stations, but by then most hadcable anyway.
Oh gods, the attached remote, i remember that. i was VERY young when VCRs still had that. Why have a remote? you couldn't sit too far away because the cord wasn't long enough!