There’s no need to use Insteons hub/cloud service. Most Insteon power users that I know are using homeseer, homeassistant as a way to control the devices.
The other good thing about, at least the light switches (which is their core product), is that they work without an internet connection and will continue to function.
However unfortunately the less tech savvy users who set up automations through Insteons service will be left (quite literally) in the dark now.
Yea this Insteon debacle is a weird example to use to highlight problems with IoT systems.
They've been around way longer than most of the "modern" protocols. It was basically Insteon and Lutron in semi-affordable home lighting control space for years and years and years before cloud-controlled IoT and Alexa entered the picture.
I'm really wondering how this all came to pass... guessing they tried and failed to jump on the app/cloud bandwagon? Their new app was late to the game and in beta for, like, two years?
Right, they had this big mainstream push with being the first Homekit partner with a failed hub, plethora of non-core devices and multiple failed apps. I think they got ahead of themselves going into this mass market and should've stayed a niche player, further perfecting their core hardware and focussing on enthusiasts and home installers. Kind of like Philips Hue did but for enthusiasts/professionals.
The other good thing about, at least the light switches (which is their core product), is that they work without an internet connection and will continue to function.
However unfortunately the less tech savvy users who set up automations through Insteons service will be left (quite literally) in the dark now.