I am a simple man. I don't buy smart devices, mostly. Offline only is completely acceptable.
The connected home was an idealistic dream that has been made perverse by the Zucks and Elons of the world. It is not accessible for normal people and it might never be - at least, not without the blood sacrifice of your privacy.
Home Assistant exist
That's not true. Zigbee and Zwave are local only, private, and inexpensive. Home Assistant is great free open source software.