Interesting points, but honestly, as someone tackling my first renovation, I'm finding the smart lighting route surprisingly affordable and practical. I initially thought it'd be just a luxury or gimmick, but after crunching numbers, basic smart bulbs and switches aren't that much pricier than quality traditional fixtures. Plus, the convenience factor has been huge—being able to adjust brightness or color temperature from my phone has genuinely improved how comfortable the rooms feel.
I do agree that fully integrated systems can get pricey fast, and probably aren't worth it for flips or short-term investments. But for my own home, even just adding smart dimmers in main living spaces and bedrooms has made a noticeable difference without breaking the bank.
On the flip side, I'm definitely with you on prioritizing fixture placement and bulb quality. I learned the hard way with some poorly placed recessed lights in my kitchen...the shadows drove me nuts until I repositioned them. Lesson learned—placement matters way more than I realized at first.
