Requiring SS for LR is a z-wave standards requirement (not just something Hubitat is doing off on their own).
LR is a hub-&-spoke topology, not mesh. Devices paired LR do not and cannot talk to other z-wave devices paired as mesh, since LR devices are not part of that mesh.
If you want to pair an LR-capable device as plain mesh, you can use SS or traditional pairing -- it makes no difference as far as pairing and performance goes.
So far, I only use SS to pair LR stuff. I still use traditional pairing for everything else (including LR-capable devices that I don't need paired as LR). Other folks here are using SS whenever possible, and that's fine too.
Jeff Page's SmartStart Manager app is highly recommended as a SS helper tool, whether you use it for LR devices and/or other SS-capable z-wave devices.
Custom Apps and Drivers / Custom Apps - Hubitat
