optional online functionality. I don’t want my HA stuff, all on the same local network, to refuse to function because some random ass server somewhere isn’t working.
Exactly. Cloud connected devices should still be able to do all the offline and/or local things when its connection to the server is down.
My lights, door lock, air conditioning, and smoke detector all have some online functionality, but they all still work normally locally and offline when my Internet is down, including programmed functions by time of day, etc.
Nah. Online functionality is great for lots of things.
optional online functionality. I don’t want my HA stuff, all on the same local network, to refuse to function because some random ass server somewhere isn’t working.
Exactly. Cloud connected devices should still be able to do all the offline and/or local things when its connection to the server is down.
My lights, door lock, air conditioning, and smoke detector all have some online functionality, but they all still work normally locally and offline when my Internet is down, including programmed functions by time of day, etc.
As others pointed out, the issue lies with it being “need” instead of “can”.