I honestly think it's less about the energy usage of the displays and more about the general visual annoyance of typical computer displays. Sure, yes, one reas

I honestly think it's less about the energy usage of the displays and more about the general visual annoyance of typical computer displays. Sure, yes, one reason we keep displays off most of the time is because of their usage, but more and more so it's the secondary reason - there are lots of power efficient displays nowadays that can maintain an always-on screen at relatively low power cost, and smarthome devices generally aren't reliant on battery power. But the bigger problem is that LCD displays are ugly. They are backlit, and their response to better lighting in the room is to increase its own strength to make itself even more apparent. They are ugly, obnoxious, and annoying in the same way blinking router lights are, but multiplied several times over. So we keep them off - we can afford to keep them on, but the fact that we keep them off 99% of the time less environmental consciousness but more an acknowledgment that they're visually noisy, distracting, and just kind of don't fit in. When you walk into a room you don't want your attention immediately drawn to this LCD panel on the wall with its pale glow. E-ink fortunately doesn't suffer from this problem. It's clearly legible, doesn't require backlighting, and more importantly doesn't appear distractingly electronic in everyday use. You can afford to keep an always-on e-ink display, not just because of its low power use, but because it won't be this annoying glow in your peripheral vision always.