ZWave is designed to work without a hub once devices are programmed, but you do need to go the extra mile to make that work - as an example you can configure a

ZWave is designed to work without a hub once devices are programmed, but you do need to go the extra mile to make that work - as an example you can configure a ZWave switch to send a message directly to the lights it should be controlling, rather than going via the hub (although the hub can also be notified). If you’re curious the keyword you’re looking for is Association.