Hi, I'm a HA and HK user personally, and it doesn't at all have to be an 'either-or' scenario.
First, and foremost, RatGDO works exceptionally well with HK with the native homekit firmware: https://github.com/ratgdo/homekit-ratgdo. It's rock solid and responsive, and I've been using the original RatGDO device since the whole API fiasco years ago.
Second, HA (or alternatively Homebridge), can both be used to connect non-homekit devices into the homekit ecosystem. That was my primary use-case of HA. For example, our hodge-podge collection of Govee light strips, Doorbell, Tuya switches, and Lifx bulbs are all in our Home apps. The kids + spouse don't know any different, it's all just in Home and responds to 'hey siri', including the garage.. There's various plugins for many devices, and with the homekit addon, you just pipe all your devices right into HK.
Then, with HA, you get the added bonus of your own Dashboard. For example, I use this to see what's playing on the various screens around the house. You can also do more complex automations, which can include services you don't hook into HK like your kids minecraft server, etc.
The point being, you don't have to choose one or the other, HA was incredibly useful for me to get stuff INTO homekit, and for the family that might be all they interact with. While you on the backend get more control tothen tinker with the automations, etc.
Hi, I'm a HA and HK user personally, and it doesn't at all have to be an 'either-or' scenario.
First, and foremost, RatGDO works exceptionally well with HK with the native homekit firmware: https://github.com/ratgdo/homekit-ratgdo. It's rock solid and responsive, and I've been using the original RatGDO device since the whole API fiasco years ago.
Second, HA (or alternatively Homebridge), can both be used to connect non-homekit devices into the homekit ecosystem. That was my primary use-case of HA. For example, our hodge-podge collection of Govee light strips, Doorbell, Tuya switches, and Lifx bulbs are all in our Home apps. The kids + spouse don't know any different, it's all just in Home and responds to 'hey siri', including the garage.. There's various plugins for many devices, and with the homekit addon, you just pipe all your devices right into HK.
Then, with HA, you get the added bonus of your own Dashboard. For example, I use this to see what's playing on the various screens around the house. You can also do more complex automations, which can include services you don't hook into HK like your kids minecraft server, etc.
The point being, you don't have to choose one or the other, HA was incredibly useful for me to get stuff INTO homekit, and for the family that might be all they interact with. While you on the backend get more control tothen tinker with the automations, etc.