In 10 years I will do what I want, just like I did this time - build it!I will never have home automation.
what will you do 10 years from now when all of the programming is not supported and incompatible with new technology?
You know what works? The basic light switches, 120V. It’s been around since the 1900s for a reason. I can trouble shoot and install anything new with that. And guarantee it’s going to work for 20 years. And replacement switches are 1.50$ at Home Depot. New lights are 50-100$ and easy to replace.
Everyone assumes that you have to choose what's offered with home automation. Amazon Alexa, Google Home, Apple HomeKit, Tuya, etc. Nope. Not necessary. There's some great open source projects out there offering a scaffolding to build on, and giving the ability to dig in as far as you'd like. You can trust it as much as you trust your skills being able to set it up. But, that's the problem for the masses - it's a specialized set of skills most people don't have.
The only people who fear or can't trust automating things are those who don't understand it. Back in the early 1900's some farmers didn't trust tractors, because they knew how to care for their oxen and horses, which rarely failed them. People didn't originally trust electricity either, thinking it would kill everyone. People didn't trust computers. And, some people don't trust home automation for the same reason.
Truthfully, we're still in the transition phase with automating the home. A lot of the automations are downright silly, and offer negative convenience. Then there's the security aspect, which for commercial offerings is functionally nonexistent.
DO NOT USE *PACKAGED* HOME AUTOMATIONAs a software engineer who works in automation, my advice to all of you is; DO NOT USE HOME AUTOMATION!
And I wouldnt use any smart speakers either. Machine learning is creepy as hell
Most of my setup stays within my walls. It's "connected" to the Internet, but requires me to VPN to my home network to access. It's completely cut off from the outside world. The few convenience items I have (wife likes the Ring doorbell) that are allowed to phone home are isolated on their own VLAN.