JimThanks for the detailed response! I just went ahead and placed an order on Amazon for a Samsung SmartThings Home Monitoring Kit, Logitech Home Hub, and Kwikset 910. A nice little starter kit which, including the price of the Google Home, only cost me about $550. I’ll look into ordering some Z-Wave light switches, too, once I get all that hooked up and tested. Thanks for the tip!
Also, I’ve kind of know about Kodi for a long time, since back in the Xbox Media Center days, but I’ve never really looked into it fully. I’ve had Windows Media Center as the hub of my entertainment since around the time that the first Media Center Extenders came out and it’s always done what I’ve needed. But since WMC is living on borrowed time, I know I eventually need to find a replacement. I’ve been thinking I need to look into Kodi and other WMC replacements, but just can’t get around to taking the time to do it since WMC still works.