True. But these switches and dimmers are bullet-proof. I have never had an issue with Caséta devices. In ~9-10 years.
Plus what @neonturbo and @ogiewon wrote.
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Yes, Hubitat’s Pico remote integration includes pushed, held, and double clicked functionality.
So, one 5 button Pico could be used for 15 different automations.
I use mine to control Philips Hue bulbs in Table/Floor lamps, for example. They work great.
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Energy Avenue has a decent price on the Pro Bridge including a switch and Pico for $200 USD. A Pro Bridge alone there is $150, so maybe there are ways to get a bridge cheaper than $200? Energy Avenue are a reliable source of Lutron stuff, many here have used them in the past. They do ship internationally, but not sure how exchange rate or fees might factor into the cost you might pay in Canada.
I do think the switches are high priced. But they do just work without fuss.
You can use a Pico with a Z-wave switch, or a Zigbee switch in Hubitat, so you aren't locked exclusively into Lutron for lighting if there is an area where you don't need the more expensive Caseta switches.
I also look at the $14 Pico vs a $25-$30 auxiliary switch, or a similar priced battery operated button controller which won't last 10 years like the Pico. The math isn't quite as good as it used to be, but if you use a dozen or so Pico, that almost pays for the bridge.
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Indeed I noticed the same kit can be had for $251-ish in Canada
Which is certainly better than $190 for the bridge alone.
But yeah $200 usd plus exchange plus shipping plus potential duties make it probably more expensive or at least a bit price-risky
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I can only reiterate that Lutron Caséta devices (switches, dimmers, Picos) have been the most bullet-proof component of my home automation system.
I know they're pricy. But they are simply bullet-proof, and Luton's wireless protocol (called ClearConnect) is exceptionally robust.
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I'm a big fan of Zooz switches. I get that folks say Lutron switches are "bullet proof" but I've only ever had an issue with a single Zooz switch and it was replaced in two days by Zooz.
The Lutron devices also don't contribute to building a robust Z network. So, now you're in the realm of spending double on the switches, plus having to supplement whichever flavor of Z network you prefer with other mains powered devices to serve as repeaters (this may not be an issue if that's already part of the plan anyhow).
Price is the largest issue. $59 vs $29 for a basic on/off switch. Add that up to the scale of a full house and the difference is significant.
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What he said!
However, I want to add that they're not that expensive especially if you need 3-way circuits. The Caseta dimmer packs that include a pico are $65 or so at Home Depot. (They were $50 when I did my house, but that was almost 5 years ago.) For a 3-way, that's just $33 per switch position. If you need 4 positions, you can use a pico you didn't need from another pack, or buy an extra for $20 - so for 3 switch positions, that's just $28 each. They save some time too. Only the actual dimmer needs to be wired in- for the other positions, just pull the switch, wire-nut the wires together, and mount the pico over the opening.
The best thing about the picos is they make it easy to control lights (brightness, not just on/off) from as many places as you want, without even needing a hub. (You can even use their mounting-plate kit to put them on walls where there wasn't even a switch.) That also means they work regardless of whether Hubitat (or even the Lutron hub) are running or not.
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A ZEN71 is $29 and works with existing switches in a 3 way (and 4 way depending on wiring) configuration. A ZEN34 is $24, can be used like a Pico, and has z-wave association to allow use without Hubitat being up.
The Zooz devices also have a smart bulb mode to disable the power relay on the switch. This allows smart bulbs to be constantly powered and use of the switch as a button controller. To my knowledge, you have to hot wire the socket and use a Pico to get the same functionality with Lutron.
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Yeah I mean the zooz definitely are cheaper and of course the gap grows as you buy more.
Right now I don’t have a single dimmer in my townhome - and I might add a couple but not many?
And I can see value in a pico remote or two but also don’t expect to add them everywhere - and there are other random zigbee/zwave scene controllers that give you lots of buttons and functionality too…
Hmmmmmmmm
You won’t regret that one time purchase. If you are not in a rush, you can find deals on eBay. I have twice. First Caséta smart bridge pro was $50 CAD. Sold that with my home, but got the bridge pro for this house for $100 CAD if I remember correctly.
What you probably will regret is, if you buy the push button Casèta dimmers. They don’t remember the dim level when you turn them off, but the new Caséta Diva smart dimmers do.
As for the pico, I don’t know if they’re going to change the look of them or not. That’s not something I care about, and I actually really like the middle button on them. Nice to have that extra functionality and it’s great to “hide” settings and special functionality in there for just you. I have never heard of anyone regretting the purchase of Picos and a smart bridge pro. And when you combine that with the Hubitat hub, it’s unlike anything you’ve ever experienced in smart home control. I don’t just mean button pushes, I mean the whole incredibly high reliability and configuration options in one package.
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I'll chime in. They are tanks. I also haven't changed any of the batteries in my pico's in 10+ years.
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Admittedly without even reading through the other comments in the thread:
They work. Reliably. Day in, day out. For years.
I've had a variety of z-wave switches from various mfrs die in less than a year, and countless episodes of at least occasional missed signals on most of my z-wave switches. I've done little with zigbee, largely because it was even worse for me. Never had any of that from Lutron Caseta. No replacements needed. No missed signals. It just works.
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While I agree with all the Lutron comments here I have to say I've found Zooz products to be top notch. Maybe not quite as battle hardened BUT far less expensive and no extra hub / account required. I've had switches running reliably for the last 6 years or so..
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I went with Lutron Caseta (currently standardizing on the Diva/Claro line - with Claro Smart Accessory switches in 3-way locations). The switches work reliably, but there is one other reason that no one else has mentioned.
I had gone all in on Insteon. Honestly, they performed great, had a well developed variety of devices, and offered some features you still can't really find in alternatives today, but they are now gone. That's a large investment kind of left hanging.
I considered Inovelli. I like the look and capabilities of their products, but with so many internal/external/supply chain issues - they have had out-of-stock products for a year, massive delays on announced products, (some never came to fruition and even today they don't know if/when). I just don't want to be in the same boat with a company that may not be able to deliver what I need, when I need it down the road. I like consistency in look and feel of switches throughout my home - so I like to stick with one manufacturer.
So I paid a little more (I generally buy most of my Caséta switches from trusted ebay merchants for about $10 less than box store prices), but the product is very good, and I have high confidence that Lutron is not going anywhere any time soon. The Diva/Claro Smart switches are a newly launched line that I'm confident they will stay committed to for a while. So that was the tipping point for me - manufacturer stability. I just replaced about 50 Insteon devices, and I don't want to be doing that again any time soon. I like Inovelli, and I hope they make it past their struggles and I really hope they grow and flourish - but at this point in time for me, manufacturer stabilty was a consideration.
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I have a set of as yet unopened zigbee blue switches for a client's new build. Have not checked the serial#'s yet though 
. I hope Inovelli survives too.. the staff seem like really good people. The Red and Black Switches I've installed have been working well for 2 years at least no complaints so far.. I did have some issues with their bulbs though.. but a firmware update resolved most of it.
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In terms of making a decision - why not purchase a single Zooz switch/dimmer and see how that works out? Worst case you're out the cost of a switch but have gained useful knowledge/experience. Just make sure you have a strong enough mesh or install it near the hub.
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The biggest issue I have with (original) Caseta is the physical UI. We don't do motion lighting so we still interact with the switches themselves a lot. We absolutely hate the Caseta button layout. You can't just reach in to a dark room and hit the switch as you can with "regular" toggles or paddles.
With the release of the Diva style of Caseta, that is no longer an issue and we are looking forward to integrating those soon.
Lutron has excellent tech and isn't going anywhere.
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I purchase a couple also. I had narrowed it down to Lutron and Inovelli based on many factors, and was going to try them both in a couple locations before making my final decision and replacing everything. I wound up never even installing the Blue series when they arrived. My first Casetas were the old style, and while I appreciated the reliability, I never liked the crowded button style. The Diva/Claro line solved that, and my other concern which was preset dim. I watched Inovelli stumble again with a recall. I checked the serial# on my yet-to-be-installed Blue series to make sure they were not affected (they weren't), and sold them to someone in the Inovelli community forums. I'm almost done now moving everything over to Caséta, and I'm happy with my choice.
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I do like and recommend Lutron but some of my clients balk at the expense - usually with renovations while new builds are an easier sell.
My largest Zooz install has been a house with 65+ switches and dimmers. Only had to replace a few and that was mostly due to the electrician not following the instructions and using longer screws or over torquing things. Once working the switches/dimmers continue to work..
Also some people (my wife!) are not thrilled with the original Caseta look and feel. I'm so glad Lutron has added more traditional looking switches to their least expensive lineup.
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We originally got into smart switches to solve a (long story) issue during a kitchen remodel - our electrician recommended Caseta, so I worked with him to get the desired parts -- a Pro hub and we went with the ELV dimmer for all the kitchen switches.
We actually needed the ELV dimmer for a couple spots, and then used them elsewhere so all Picos and switches matched for consistency's sake.
The aesthetic of the ELV dimmer (and the "flat" legacy dimmer & switch) is an understandable point of contention... That 5-button layout works really slick as a tabletop remote, but doesn't have the most awesome tactility on a wall.
But our kitchen lighting is all automated and on scene-based rails, so we very rarely ever actually touch any of those individual ELVs.
Initially, I didn't think we'd really use standalone Picos as remotes for stuff in HE, but now we have a whole bunch of them scattered around -- they are awesome and pretty darn cheap to boot.
But elsewhere in house, I use Inovelli Blues and a few Zooz's since those other switches/dimmers get touched more often -- having a more traditional rocker look-&-feel is welcome for us and any guests.
Plus, I get a TON of mileage out of having all of those Blues and Zooz's do other stuff beyond just their own wired load -- control scenes, other devices in the room etc etc. That's not possible with Caseta, unfortunately.
Bottomline -- no reason to go with just one solution everywhere -- having options is a win!
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