I have smart home things but they're all locally driven by HomeAssistant.

I want the convenience of the automations without ever having to worry that some corporation can or will take the functionality from me.

Non-IT people don't find much use in these things either. There's a brief futurism novelty that wears off. The devices sit unused until they inevitably break or go obsolete. Or they give up using out of frustration. Not because they're tech illiterate. Because they realize the thing didn't need to be IOT.

I'm with you on this, but i am genuine curious, what kind of advantage does it bring? You still have to unload the dishwasher, you can close the blinds with 1 button when you're at home. My temperature control has a sensors outside to check how much heating i need.

Literally i want examples of where this makes life easier?

OK here's one why do we assume someone working in tech is knowledgeable in tech. Its a job. I have met many network maintainers for companies who seem like they know nothing. I have met many support staff who don't know their bass from a home in the ground. Just because by outwork in the field does not mean you are an expert on everything or even the thing you do. And this doesn't just apply to tech

Mechanical locks are so easy to break into with minimal tools. My friend that sells security doors uses digital locks for that reason.

No HA*, no Zigbee, no containerized service landscape but the routers run OpenWRT. Hmm, Okay.

*other OSS contenders are fine.