... this! I really like and use NR too. I use it as my rules controller to lighten the load on my hubs as well as other things that @wecoyote5 points out etc.
While I think it makes a great companion server to HE it's not for everyone and is not necessary to have a complete and functional home automation system.
(but it can help!) 
No, not at the moment. There have been talks of their stuff being added to Hubitat, but apparently things didn't go well so I wouldn't get your hopes up on that.
To point out a few other downsides to Hubitat, first of all it isn't as easy to set up as SmartThings. It is much more powerful than ST IMHO, but takes a little more work to get things going.
Some devices that work on SmartThings might not work or work as well on Hubitat. I've had a lot more issues with Z-Wave on Hubitat than I ever did on ST. Most of those issues have been from secure pairing, especially S0 pairing. For best results, you should pair your non-lock/garage door Z-Wave devices without security. Unfortunately, your Zooz 4-in-1 doesn't have an option for insecure inclusion, so it will default to S0, making it somewhat unreliable on Hubitat. This also caused the battery in mine to drain in less than 2 months. It is possible to get it to pair without S0 by using a secondary controller. There are more threads that talk about this.
All this being said, Hubitat has been great for me. It has been far more reliable and much faster than ST. If you decide to switch, to help with transitioning, I would recommend HubConnect to keep Hubitat and SmartThings in sync. If you have any issues getting things set up or just have any questions, the community here is very friendly and helpful.
Just remember this is not a "HE" issue per say it's a Z-wave plus 700 series issue/ requirement. The work around is as you said to use a another z-wave stick as a secondary controller joined unsucurly (as long as it supports S2) then join the device though that. By doing this your not restricted by the 700 series "requirement" . That's not to say it's not a pain because it is!
To me it seems like that silicon labs have basically created a brand new protocol but given it the same name. Then bolted on some "old" z-wave plus stuff to say it's backwards compatible, but it's definitely not, especially for z-wave devices.
I don't think you need an S2 compatible stick for this - anything that can pair as a secondary controller should be good. You can only pair with "no security" or "S0" anyway - S2 will not transfer apparently.
I've only used S2 capable sticks so could be wrong about that.
alot of my first devices are just "zwave" before "zwave + " came out. will these not work?
Z-wave will work but you may have to poll some devices to get them to report reliably.
All all of my z-wave device (non plus) have some issues. They are both Fibaro, it's a case of it depends on the manufacturers implementation of the standard.
most of mine are GE switches/dimmer that replace switches. i have a couple repeaters but i plan to upgrade those anyway
Convert from ST here. Sorry, don't have experience with some of the devices you mention, the majority of mine are zigbee or (oddly) WiFi.
Just want to say that wherever bumps you may encounter due to incompatible devices will be worth it. ST for me finally became an utterly failed platform after months of detriment, and a final straw-that-broke-the-camel's-back screwup this summer.
Moved then. The difference is obscene.
I moved from ST last April. I have quite a few GE zwave non-plus switches and dimmers and they do not require polling. They send their status to the hub. My switches are probably 2015, maybe 2016 vintage.
Thank you I think I stared getting mine around the same time
I thought I was going to have issues with these switches put they report their status just as well as my plus switches. It appears there was a window where some non plus zwave switches (at least GE/Jasco) were produced with status updating after the patent on reporting expired.
You will just have to join the switches and see if they report.
Yeah, you will have issues with non plus switches even with polling.
I replaced all my z-wave switches we the Lutron Caseta. They are expensive but well worth it in the long run IMO.
Best bet is to replace them with Inovelli or Zooz if you still want Z-wave plus.
Not much selection with Zigbee but Sinope and Jasco do make them. I have 2 Jasco Zigbee dimmers and because I want to keep my 3 ways Aux switches.
most of my house is GE so that would be cost prohibitive if i have to replace them all 
my new purchases will be Inovelli
Don't overlook the fact that Hubitat handles Zigbee devices very well. Hubitat has device drivers for many types of Zigbee devices. Furthermore, it's well know that the Zigbee sensors tend to react faster, and cost less than zwave equivalents.
Please note: If you don't have any interference from wifi, Zigbee can be a charm.
If you do have an overlapping wifi band, be prepared to spend some time in tweaking.
does that include door sensors?
any recommened motion sensor?
I ask because i only have a couple old Iris sensor I got a few years ago and I though the "sucked" for battery.
I was newb and no know that sensors were zigbee and they were not close to the hub at all.
im in the contry and the only 2.4 i have is my WIFI
i have 10 of the ecolink zwave in my cart to put arount my house, the zigbee one or that much better that I would have the added cost of the reapters i would need to buy? im guessing i would 4-6 repeaters as everything i have right now is ZW
If you have the EcoLink Zwave Plus Contact Sensors - I wouldn't replace them. They are a great sensor, and in general you don't need instantaneous response for a contact sensor. (However, for the future, if you're buying, get zigbee).
However, for motion sensors, instant response is very much required.
An easy way to get zigbee repeating action going is to buy the Ikea Tradfri repeater. Very inexpensive, very good at repeating. (Doesn't look great. But 2 out of 3, isn't bad!)
with zigbee one?
Ecolink-Wireless-Window-Contact-4655BC0-R
im about to buy 10 of them to put on some doors
Download the Hubitat app
