Smart switches are programmable, and can easily configure smart switches and lights. You can get a touch screen interface to home assistant, and do all of that on it, embed it on the wall. It doesn't need to be an app on your phone.

Voice is definitely easier and more convenient, with HA being more configurable and difficult.

There are always going to be trade-offs in life, but you're definitely getting convenience in exchange for privacy here

It's always risk vs convenience.

Personally I respect folks keen on privacy. But I'm old, I don't have kids, and don't give a fuck. Give me my voice commands and no hassle set up/use...

Damn, I also paid Mycroft ai, it's a shame what happened to them. But this is the kind of convenience that is not worth giving away my entire life to a corporation.

Home assistant is making great strides and will get there eventually but it's probably still several years and two or three hardware revisions away from replacing Alexa for anyone that isn't a total geek about these things. They just don't have the money to produce loss leaders like Amazon can.