Yes but think about a nation-state. They aren't looking to hire black-hat hackers and dodge the police, they're creating a military division that recruits and t

Yes but think about a nation-state. They aren't looking to hire black-hat hackers and dodge the police, they're creating a military division that recruits and trains the hackers, and they are their own police. They'll be able to manage their talent flow to ensure they can execute operations properly. With regards to potential impact, I'm afraid it's a little more serious than smart lights changing colour. One could disable power-plants, steal money, vandalize factories. I saw a DefCon talk where the guy stumbled onto a totally open control panel for a waste-water treatment plant. With a little creativity and co-ordination, this can be a very effective form of war. See also the Israeli's (or someone) disrupting Iran's nuclear ambitions.