zlacker

>>pictur+(OP)
Can someone explain to me what this ecosystem is and the appeal of it?

I have nothing automated in my life, that I know of? I don't have a garage; the door to the house has a key; the lights I turn on with a switch; no Alexa, don't use Siri... I am not exactly opposed to automation, but I am hesitant to share even more demographic data to cloud services.

>>triyam+f5
if you live in an inhospitable climate (arizona for example) with pets or perhaps otherwise disabled individuals left at home (grandparents?), remote ability to control thermostat has proven useful.

that said, useful in this case means saving a bit of money by adjusting its settings. a manual (non cloud) thermostat would work too.