Just wanted to put this out there and try to get some feedback from the community. In your opinion, which is better, Matter or direct integration of devices? And why? Just curious on everyone's thoughts.
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Depends on the device, but often, you don't have a choice. If you do, the general trend seems to be that Matter gives at least basic functionality but may not give access to all features (e.g., scenes or effects on certain light bulbs/strips). On the other hand, if you're already using Matter, it could mean one less integration app that you need to to add to your hub, or it may save you from using a custom app or driver if there's nothing built-in.
My preference is Matter if it meets my needs, just because I'm already using it for some devices; otherwise, I'll use an integration app or dedicated driver (which you need depends on the particular device and how it works) if I need specific features that are only available that way. I can give you a concrete example after 2.4.0 is released but don't know when that will be. 
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Is it still necessary access the Google or Amazon home control systems to install a Matter device? I thought I read that Govee devices could be added directly, with a custom driver, without going through the aforementioned step.
I’ll have to find the thread, but I thought I saw where someone had done something like that with Matter over WiFi. Matter over Thread still needs a Thread Border Router (TBR) device though I believe.
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or Homekit. Once it's on hubitat though you can remove it from what ever you used to onboard it. That said, eventually when the mobile app is given bluetooth access on the phone, you will be able to onboard to hubitat directly.
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I am not sure how many have done that at my suggestion, but i am probably the guilty party for suggesting Govee devices can be added directly to the hub. It certainly does work and can be done. The question of if it is the best thing to do may be debatable.
In a recent thread somewhere someone provided some potential clarity to me on it. Basically it comes down to two different tokens used when setting up MATTER devices. Simply put the token provided to initially commision a Matter device into a environment is different from the provisoning token used when the devices is already setup. Hubitat doesnt currently have a method to create a provison token to do that second level of pairing. If you pair a MATTER device directly to hubitat then you can't reall pair it to a secondary hub is my understanding.
In my case that is fine since i dont have a secondary MATTER hub, but thay may create conflicts for others if you have that desire.
It does not require a custom driver, but i did create one to fix issues with color and color temp changes taking way to long to function as the stepping seems to function very weird. I also add lan control function to allow Govee Scene control.
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This seems to be the conversation I need help with. I replaced my Hue light strips with Govee M1 strip. I managed to pair it into my Apple Home hub rather than through Hubitat.
My question is how do I make it visible to Hubitat for automations. It seems I can push Hubitat devices into Apple Home via the Homekit integration but I don't see how I can go the other direction and push it to Hubitat. The above conversation seems to imply I cannot pair Govee M1 to both Apple Home and also add it as a Matter device to Hubitat. Is that correct?
Is there another Approach I should have used?
I'm not sure where you see that; for Matter devices, that's one way you actually can do it. (You have to do something like that since Hubitat cannot currently commission a Matter device, though Home is not the only option.)
I'm not familiar with the specific product I mention, so one question that's worth asking: is it Matter? Not all Home-compatible devices are. HomeKit is an holder protocol than Matter, and Home devices might use either. Only Matter supports what is described above. This doc may answer more questions:
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Govee M1 is Matter compatible. It has a Matter QR code on its power cable. I provisioned it into the HOME app by adding it as an accessory. I can see my LED lightstrip in the Home app and turn it on/off/... in the HOME app.
However in Hubitat when I go into the Homekit app I can only see Hubitat devices and select them for being made visible in the Apple HOME app.
Theoretically when you add a device in the Hubitat screen you can select what kind of device you are adding and select Z-Wave, Zigbee and Matter is now one of those choices. If you select Matter it will ask you for a Matter code and then tell you to put the device in Pairing mode.
What I don't know is can you pair the device(LED lightstrip) to multiple HUBS AKA Home and Hubitat.
If you can't then can you push the device from HOME to Hubitat somehow like we do when we push HUE/Bond and other devices into Hubitat.
The document I linked to above provides the instructions you are looking for. The HomeKit Integration is for adding Hubitat devices to Home, as you see, not the other way around.
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