I don't think each needs to be networked, at least not via IP or directly to the Internet. In fact, I'm hoping the design goes towards local protocols and hubs

I don't think each needs to be networked, at least not via IP or directly to the Internet. In fact, I'm hoping the design goes towards local protocols and hubs that are directly connected. Your programmable thermostat very likely doesn't accommodate the situation where you're out of town for 8 days over the winter holidays and you need it to be just warm enough to not have pipes freeze, and you want it to be warm when you show up with your two toddlers and pregnant wife at 7pm (bedtime). Also, what if you can't remember if you actually turned the heat down or not? Also, I'm sure you can't turn your thermostat down in less time as I have a Vacation Mode shortcut button that I can access from the Today pull down in iOS that sets the thermostat to 55, turns off all the lights, and turns on motion detection notifications- without unlocking my phone. I'm being pedantic, but it is truly that easy. Your light switches hooked up to a surprisingly power hungry timer don't tell you that they actually turned on when you're gone. Can't remember if you left the living room on and you're out of town? Check your phone. Using a local communication protocol helps keep your gadgets from leaking your info all over the Internet like those god forsaken Internet cameras and such are doing these days, and the hubs they connect to allow you to actually interface with them remotely. This leaves the hubs as the weakest remote link, but in that case you only have to worry about one vendor getting it right instead of every vendor. It doesn't remove the risk, but it certainly makes it more manageable. Z-wave and ZigBee both have their flaws, especially around security, but they do have the advantage of not making everything in your house addressable from the Internet. These things aren't necessary, but they're not frivolous. They already are bringing efficiencies with not all that much effort.