Yeah, it's a bit tricky - even to control the switches locally you need Kasa (or an alternative), and if you use any scheduling the tp link devices need access to the internet to keep time sync'd. If...

Doesn't this come down to you either trust TP Link or you don't? Signing out from their app doesn't necessarily mean the app won't still be contacting their servers, only that you cannot. Turning off...

I believe that if you connect through a different SSID the app is going to need to make a remote connection through the cloud - you'll need to enable remote access.

Manually in this context is usually taken to mean by the device's switch - what you describe would be automatic operation. Skylink is a hub system, TP Link is hubless so they're not comparable. You...

I *think* I've got it - tested on the HS110, the only TCP connection I see now is the redirect to my internal server. If you want it early I should have it out in a few days or so in the beta...

It is a disturbing thing about the TP Link devices - even when set to for local only they're still calling out to their cloud. I'd be a little more sympathetic if they only called out to an NTP...