All electrical work in the unit has to be done by someone legally qualified to do so (I'm not) and it is not worth getting a bill for a "proper" electrician to fix it for. Also only work for one lamp per room (that already has a light switch) and doesn't do any fancy new color-control features. Everything else needs additional modules and wireless controls anyways, so why do it differently for this one case?
Exchanging batteries in additional lightswitches seems stupid, but doesn't happen THAT often. You can add them if you want them, others make do with the phone and maybe NFC tags or other tricks.
Sure, if I owned the place or would be staying here for many years it might be worth it, but not yet.
I kinda wanna know how many people actually get asked to show proof the electrical work of shutting off the power, unscrewing wires from a light switch, and screwing them back onto a new light switch, was done by a licensed professional. I get you probably don't want someone running new wiring around a place who doesn't know what they're doing, but changing out light switches isn't substantially more difficult than changing a light bulb.
I really depends on the situation (Here it certainly would be noticed and questioned), but that really wasn't the main point I wanted to make. I was more going after your argument that true home automation isn't flipping switches: a principle I very much agree with, and in my experience various wireless systems make setting that up relatively easy. Because it is linked to a computer for more complex features, and you can move stuff around within seconds. Just because some of these systems come as only a bridge and a smartphone app doesn't mean that's how people actually use it, as far as I can see. But many start with just a fancy colorful lamp as an effect, which works fine with just the app, and then comes integrating it with the TV, and the alarm, and ...
These basic sets require very low effort to get started, and THEN people are interested.
I hope I got my point across better now, it's kinda late here.
In case of renting an apartment, you risk getting in trouble with your landlord. Given how hostile landlord-tenant relationships can be, non-invasive solutions may be desirable to some.
I've installed my Nest in 3 separate apartments, installed a fan in another, rewired an outlet so only one outlet was switched, and replaced multiple outlets with zwave outlets and no maintenance guys or landlords have said anything.
