My experience with HE

So currently have my Remotec setup and working well.
Getting most of my mode changes under wraps which is good.
Still trying to decide wether to go with yeelights to fill in the lighting gaps I have or go with some more tradfris but the price point is the same on both to get to the island.
I setup my first rule which was a mountain of a thing (RM is just really mind bending, but like I read - write out your rule and what you want it to do. That made it much easier to plan and execute).

currently just waiting on my ikea repeaters to get here on the slow boat they must be on.
Then I can start messing with door sensors and temp sensors.

I really want to add in TTS - I have 6 or so echos already, but from everything i've read you need subsequent hardware to run the required software to get them to work.
Did anyone have a suggestion or preference they can share from experience ?

I do have 2 or 3 spare pi's sitting around idol that I can deploy etc.