This is one of the best pieces of info I've ever seen on NVR software.
I will say that a lot of the app criticism you see ("spinning", "blank / black view") is due to the nature of the network the app is on.
I've spent a lot of time researching NVR software as I only want to do this once and I want to do it right, and it all seems to suck pretty bad, at least the SOHO/Home stuff, and maybe the commercial stuff as well.
What version of Surveillance Station were you running? It shouldn't require constant monitoring and if the NVR loses the lease or whatever with one of the cameras, it should have multiple streams to inform the license holder, user.
I have little first hand experience, but I am sure from what I have read and your experiences, that NVR and remote viewing software collectively sucks really bad.