I bought a Hampton Bay Ceiling Fan, Battery Park model. It comes with a wall transmittor. Must I use the wall transmittor or would it work w/ just the light switch control? If I choose to install the wall transmittor, what is your opinion of the quality of such an electrical feature? It seems to me if that breaks down, the fan is useless and difficult to repair.

If the fan has pullchains you can use it without the remote. If not you are STUCK and have to use the remote. And you are right the remotes break down all the time and are not easily repairable. Better to choose a fan without one.