Devices
You need a hub when you care about reliability, mixed protocols, or local control. You can skip one for a tiny all-Wi-Fi setup, but the tradeoff is usually more cloud dependence and more long-term fragility.
You probably need a hub if
- You want Zigbee or Z-Wave devices.
- You want automations that survive internet hiccups.
- You are building beyond a few bulbs/plugs.
You can maybe skip it if
- You only have a handful of Wi-Fi devices.
- You accept vendor lock-in and cloud dependency.