My smart plug drama made me rethink home automation gadgets

I read a Consumer Reports article last year that said nearly 30% of smart home device returns were due to connectivity problems. My cousin had the same issue with her brand name smart plug, where it would just drop off the network every few days. She swapped it for a basic outlet timer from the hardware store and said it was a relief. Sometimes the old tech just works without needing an app update or a router reboot. It feels like these gadgets create a problem they're supposed to solve.