I've got a total investment of well under $500 to achieve the above. Part of the beauty of this is that I can buy the cheapest, dumbest stuff and get the capabi

I've got a total investment of well under $500 to achieve the above. Part of the beauty of this is that I can buy the cheapest, dumbest stuff and get the capabilities of the marked up junk. Edit: I don't think I'm addressing your point. I find my system is extremely useful, keeps me safer, and saves me money. I feel that's worth my modest investment. Can you clarify your position? I do think that most IOT junk is hugely marked up (and hostile). I just think that Home Assistant is one of the few players in the IoT sphere that is _not_.