If you've got an amazon echo or equivalent, try this experiment: disconnect your internet. Now issue a voice command to it. Why is your light not switching on? Why is alexa not answering your questions?

Now you know why I want "off-site cloud" for particular things. Not everything. Just what matters. A few things here and there.

There's nothing wrong with the cloud and nothing stops me from using its benefits. Except one minor detail. My use-cases are likely different from others. I wish to keep cloud access as needed but also just a little bit more.