This does not make any sense, because using the "app" (devices tab?) is the same exact thing as having a rule or group trigger the device. Anything on the hub is going to flow through the on/off commands on the device driver.
There are two main things you want to test and make sure is working for the device itself:
- Physical actions on the device get reported and update status on the hub
- Actions from the device page on the hub are reflected physically and update the status on the hub (test on/off and setting levels for dimmers).
If those two things are working then the device and driver are functioning as expected. If you have any subsequent issue with other apps then we have already ruled out the driver as being the problem.
Turn on logging for the apps/devices and then check the logs.
Is it possible your hub is just bogged down with a bunch of broken apps an integrations you have installed? That's usually the cause of apps partially working or breaking half-way through execution.
Yes they possibly just have that wrong in the compatibility list, probably supposed to be the one you were using already.
Similar problem reported with the ZW3005 dimmer: Finding right driver for GE/Jasco ZW3005 ZW+