Yes, I think we are talking about the same thing. Many smart switches, work like standard switches in the sense that they turn power on/off to the light fixture. They can either do this by physically pressing the paddle/toggle or by having a command sent to the switch by some hub or other smart device. Many people prefer this type of smart switch and never install any smart bulbs. This system has the advantage of not requiring a smart bulb and retaining the ability to turn the light on/off if the smart hub becomes dysfunctional.
The problem arises if you install a smart bulb with these switches. Smart bulbs like to have power constantly supplied to them. They turn on/off from smart commands sent from a hub or other smart devices. Obviously a smart switch is not ideal for this situation as it kills power to the light. In this case, the desired device you would want to install in the switch location is a "button device". This being a device that has buttons you push that simply send commands to your hub, at which point your hub decides what to do with these commands (typically turn on/off the smartbulb). This system has the disadvantage of requiring a functional hub to turn the light on/off. If your hub goes down you lose the ability to turn your light on/off.
Some (but not all) smart switch manufacturers have recognized this dilemma and they have a setting to turn their smart switch into a button device. In other words, when this setting is active, the switch always provides power to the light fixture and physically toggling the switch simply sends commands to the hub. I know zooz and inovelli have switches with this feature, I am not sure about other switches.
If you install a smart switch with this feature and activate it, you have really turned your smart switch into a button device. At this point, you might as well compare it to other button devices as this is what it has become. At this point, Lutron Picos are the clear winner. This is for several reasons, first once you get passed the purchase of the first ten or so, they are the cheapest (see post above). Second, they are ultra-reliable and look elegant (user discretion, people feel differently about this). Third, and not least, for the button controller to lose the ability to control your light the Lutron hub would have to go down (this depends on how you set things up, but this would be typical), and the Lutron hub and other Lutron products are rock solid.
Disclaimer, I have a strong zwave and zigbee mesh along with the Lutron system. My locks, outlets, and many sensors are zigbee. The majority of my light switches are zwave. And my button devices and some of my light switches are Lutron. I am not partial to any system.