Looks like I was ahead of the curve. When building my house, I looked at all the smarthome stuff, and eventually decide "nope". It's all conventional wiring. Consider that the dimmer switches, over time, all failed, some I had to replace multiple times. I finally gave up and replaced them with simple on/off switches.

What I did do, which paid off handsomely, is run RG6 coax and Cat5 cables everywhere in a star configuration. I did all the work myself to make sure it was done right. Haven't had any trouble at all with it, despite lots of upgrading of the electronics.

BTW, another thing I did, which isn't exactly home automation. I bought a $10 microwave from the thrift store, and put it in the bathroom. I don't have to run the faucet anymore waiting for hot water for a wash cloth. Just wet the washcloth and throw it in the microwave. Aaaahhh, the luxury of hot washcloth on my face! If I was designing a house these days, I'd build in a special spot for the microwave in the bathroom.

Interesting that most of the issues seem UI problems - or rather, the idea that we don't need physical switches anymore because the phone is just the universal control for everything reveals itself as incredibly stupid.

If we're already struggling with phone addiction and an out-of-control attention economy, probably the last thing you'd want is to constantly be forced back to your phone if you just want to do basic household things.

Also, I don't understand how anyone could think that random passcodes in the place of what used to be a button would be good UX.

I'm reminded of the Mr Robot episode where they hacked into the Lawyers home and messed with all the smart appliances.

A long time ago when I envisioned a "smart home of the future" I imagined using lots of sensors to control vents, windows, blinds, and HVAC to more efficiently heat and cool the house and optimize comfort in it while using less energy. I still would like something like that but instead we got dishwashers you can turn on with your phone...

That would require smart home widget actually working together and to be designed with a common design in mind, and not just every widget phoning home to its vendor cloud...

I use "The Clapper" to turn lights on and off :-)

Tech-free homes are the new rich people flex? Crazy that in 2025, the super wealthy are spending millions on houses with no smart gadgets or Wi-Fi, like they’re living in the old days. It’s not just about hating tech maybe more about buying privacy. No Alexa listening, no data tracking. Is this just for billionaires, or are we all tired of being online all the time?

I prefer simple tech. It can still be automated, and 'smart', but using HomeAssistant, its smart for ME.

No passwords, no stupid. Doesn't even need internet, just the local network.

I can even share access creds to pur garage doors remotely.

Again, I focus on simple and effective 'smart', not throwing enshittifying internet garbage everywhere.

Yeah but that is smart tech, it's just not what people experience as the consumer branding of it.

“Why the people that can afford smart homes are unplugging from smart homes”