This is not exactly the case for HomeKit. Apple didn't even add the ability to control devices when you are off your home network until recently.

Yep. And it's Apple that's pushing for a HomeKit router [1].

Reading between the lines of how Apple's been handling the "smart home" business, they've been focusing on privacy and security relative to competitors, but it's been holding them back.

I think the market has kind of shown that privacy (e.g. devices that aren't streaming to / dependent on the cloud) and security have not been primary concerns of the people who buy smart home devices, but solving those problems better may be key to enlarging the "smart home" market to include normal people.

[1] https://www.computerworld.com/article/3446197/why-we-need-ap...

Seconded. Apple, Amazon and Google have very different goals for your data. This is just a transport layer. Your privacy from the mother company isn’t impacted by the transport layer, but rather where they put the “brains” of your smart home.

While all using the same transport layer they can continue to utilize different “brain” strategies.

Apple’s “brain” has always been in your home where your data belongs and should stay. Google started with the cloud but is moving towards the same model.

On the other hand Amazon seems to have no qualms slurping everything out of your home to their servers and no plans to change.

The more you know.

Not sure I understand. I am pretty sure you have been to remotely control Homekit since the beginning, originally by utilizing an Apple TV 3rd generation, and subsequently with iPads, Apple TV 4th gen/Apple TV 4K, and now HomePods.

Google and Amazon are like that. Apple is more into cross-selling you other Apple products and locking you into the Apple ecosystem.