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If you want IOT things that are fully under your control, it's definitely possible. Home Assistant with Tasmota/Zwave/Zigbee devices is very powerful, all without requiring any cloud connection.

I have so many minor automations that add up over time. When I get home, my Z-Wave lock on the front door automatically unlocks. If I open the garage, the LED shop lights turn on and the door in from the garage unlocks.

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I'm curious what you do with the several seconds per day those automations save you. I imagine at least some of that time is spent troubleshooting and reconfiguring it.

To me, (home) automation is not (only) about saving a total amount of time. It's about saving time at the right moment. When I have lots of free time, I will happily spend it refining my home automations. It's a fun hobby and simple programming with things that you can actually see and touch. But when I just got home from a stressful day at work and have to hurry to some other appointment, saving a few seconds here and there can actually be very valuable. As long as all your "smart" stuff can't access the internet it's great.

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