For my use-case with a older home we use the old "toggle" style switches. I did manage to get wife approval to replace all my upstairs light switches with Zooz toggles. They are a little different from the traditional in that they stay centered but the look is consistent. Either that or use behind the switch relays like the (Z-Wave) Aeotec Micro/Nano stuff.
Anyway always good to check out new stuff - we need more powered zigbee devices in the US at least.
Sonoff and others already have touch-screen, multi-gang switches (replace two or three toggle/rocker switches with one, reducing wall space). Just a matter of some company making a sleek, modern design for US form/fit/function. Would work well for a new design.
Problem is it will also be "aged" based on the trendy design. Need replacement later with update. Old fashioned toggle/paddle switches are not as sensitive to aging.
Although push buttons are "classic" too in some older US homes. I think they were associated with having the problematic "knob & tube" wiring so fell out of favor.
Those are pretty switches, but I am finding I am using switches/dimmers much less with automation. I think in a perfect world the home would be automated to the point were there would be no need for switches and that you would just have one single touch screen device to control everything from. This makes spending a ton of money on switches less appealing, at least to me.
That's the all point of smart switches. They exist to enable them not to be used.
However they serve a second purpose, redundancy! In the event that your hub dies/have a crisis or whatsoever you can still manage your house. Otherwise if your hub goes bananas how you are going to address a simple thing like turn things on and off?
Yes, you are right reliability is the biggest reason for this. Automation has to get to the point of being as reliable as a basic switch before switches would ever be eliminated. It will probably happen but we are not there at this point.
I think the cheaper option would be to use micro dimmers since you can use basically any type of non-smart switch/dimmer.
I still stick with the Decora style, but they are not sleek as those Orvibo's. I do like that brushed aluminum look, not sure if they would fit with our house and if the wife would care for the color.
I've replaced all of the switches and sockets (receptacles) in my kitchen area with this line. They have a pop-out socket that is very cool, and has 3 connections.
As @Cobra said... you guys are spoiled with options compared with the rest of the world.
In my little corner, except for IKEA, we can't find a store chain that sells smart stuff. The very few that do, only sell products that either nobody wants or are over priced. We need to import most stuff. So what you buy for $20 it costs us €35+
I've always had a nag in my head when I went to the kitchen sink and there, side by side, are two switches. One is for the garbage disposal, one for a light. Three houses, all the same. No way to distinguish, so as an owner, one simply memorizes. The moment I saw the Adorne line in Lowes, I had to have them because they come in more than one color. I could make the garbage disposal switch different, finally.
They even have tiny lights that can be added so that in the dark, I can find the Light switch and not the garbage disposal.
No... Many home owners label them with a label printer.... Oh, and put a tiny label in the bottom corner indicating what circuit # it is on too for easy isolation (similar to what you see in commercial installations).
That is the exact same as memorizing by position.,, You still don't know what it does until using it, if you are not the home owner. And the home owner still had to memorize that grey=disposal and sliver=light (or whatever).
Thus actual labels are superior in every way - except arguably aesthetics I guess. But the particular white labels I use exactly match the white cover plates, so look pretty darn good.
The Adorne line isn't smart stuff. They are dabbling in it but these are switches that demand a Qubino or Aeon inside-the-wall-box solution. (Except for the garbage disposal )
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