Basically, unless it works over a local network and doesn't send commands to and from some server in Timbuktoo, it's a no-go for me. Working peer-to-peer with my phone would also work. That's how Apple's HomeKit seems to work, but not how Insteon/Amazon works.

The trend towards giving big-pig corepirations access to your home, electricity usage data, etc is frankly asinine. It might seem harmless, until you realize that they'll have your schedule and habits down pat.

Also, who's to say that the servers will operate forever? Will they tell you to get new light controllers in 10 years because the old ones are no longer supported? Whereas, peer-to-peer would work so long as there's an Internet and Web. And there are light switches that are 100 years old and still work fine