This is actually correct. It is not like VFP where the code is stored within a control. All .NET events are properly handled versus executing an embedded procedure as in VFP. This is actually better because in VFP if you moved a control to another parent or page, then your references died. As you have learned, this doesn't happen in .NET. The code is just a handler of the objects events.
It sounds like you are doing this the hard way. .NET is AWESOME in this respect!!! Instead of manually renaming a variable or method, right-click the method and select "Rename..." This will rename the variable, method, etc. and all references to the old name. Very nice.