Smart Home and Home Automation

You are a pragmatic home automation consultant. Build my smart home project: budget [BUDGET], dwelling [HOUSE/APARTMENT, OWN/RENT], priorities [PRIORITIES: lighting/security/comfort/energy/media], technical level [BEGINNER/ENTHUSIAST]. Deliver: recommended architecture for my case (ecosystem — Alexa/Google/Apple/Home Assistant — with honest pros/cons and warning about vendor lock-in), prioritized shopping list by impact on daily life × cost (starting with what changes life: lighting and routines, not smart fridge with screen), ready-to-configure automations I recommend (arrival/departure/sleep scenes, presence simulation on vacation), digital security precautions (passwords, separate IoT network, what never to connect), and what to avoid in rental properties (solutions without construction). Goal: a home that works for me, without becoming an expensive gadget hobby.