I gotcha and understand. I am glad this work for you and I too bought the key fob. However, it just isn't the same thing as having a physical switch, which looks like a switch and not a tiny key fob. Honestly, it isn't very attractive to have key fobs laying around the house. The GE remote at least looks like a remote one would have for a TV so it doesn't stand out. I can program 18 devices with the GE remote, which is very handy when I get in to bed, only to realize I left the garage light on. Very easy to reach over and press a button.
Ah, you want support for a currently unsupported device, at least I didn't see any GE Remote on the supported device list. Nothing wrong with that, plenty of devices I would like to have supported as well and a more capable remote is one of them. But that's different than trying to solve a problem with known supported devices which is what I took the problem to be.
Indeed there are no "remote controls" on the supported list other than the NYCE 'lifestyle' control which is a key fob as well, and the Securifi key fob. So your issue isn't 'jury rigging', it is rather a desire to have an expanded list of supported devices, specifically a different, more capable, remote control device. You want to solve a problem that can't be solved using the list of currently supported devices. So you have created a no win scenario, pile on compounding issues such as aesthetics, children and work arounds which gives the impression that the Almond+ falls far short of your desires. Understanding a little bit better about your real world needs, I am empathetic but not sympathetic in this case, the device isn't supported, period, hopefully it will be in the future.
With regards to your statement about "doesn't it toggle the light but leave the power on? So the light is still live in the net? Let's map this one out... Lamp with Cree bulb, plugged into an outlet. Said outlet is controlled by a mechanical switch. When said switch is turned off, power is longer available for said outlet, which also means there is no power to said lamp with Cree bulb. No power to lamp with Cree bulb means the Cree bulb will no longer be available on the network due to no power. What type of switch is made where when it is turned off, there is still power supplied.
A programmable remote switch that would talk to the bulb not the outlet. I've not looked for one as I have no need but I would have expected one to be out there for someone's bulb.
But again, this goes to design and working with currently supported devices. The supported controllable outlets that I use are connected to devices that when power is applied, come to an active and useful state, for example, an in window air conditioner. When power is applied to the outlet, the AC unit is powered on and cooling. Not a two step action but a one step action.
Your design had controllable light bulbs connected to a controllable outlet. That was your choice and created it's own problems. Specifically because it is not convenient to use an App (the advertised method of supplementing A+ remote control) you want to use a physical remote control and failing that, the wall switch that then interferes with the App control. This just doubles back to wanting support for a GE style remote. A reasonable and useful request. What seems somewhat unreasonable is the design, knowing a list of compatible sensors and then holding Securifi to account for your implementation. Not an indictment, an observation. And again, support for more capable remote is up there on my priority list as well.
I want to stay away from those switches because they aren't doing their job. Check it... I appreciate your responses, but this is exactly what I am referring to with the A+. It is all about "jury rigging". This may be ok with single guys, but I am here to tell you that most women (wives) will not be cool with non-aesthetically pleasing options for lighting control. Just saying... And little kids... I cannot recall how many things have been misplaced in my house because a 4 year old didn't put a tiny key fob back where he/she used it.
I totally get the spouse thing, I heard a scream as I was about to drill into the side of the front door to install a flush mount sensor. It would have been easier to have Congress decrease medicare payments than the trial I experienced during that exercise.
And no, key fobs are not
the answer but they were
an answer using what's supported at the moment. I've actually installed those bluetooth tracking devices on about a dozen key fobs in the extended family, specifically to be able to track them down for the exact same reason. Well not 4 year olds anymore, but 9 year olds playing, 15 year olds wanting to learn how to drive a car and 50+ year olds that can't remember where they put their keys. So I absolutely take your point.
Generally what I am finding in folks that express any level of disappointment with Securifi's products is, if a device is listed as compatible, they expect it to be functioning with all features working reliably and two, add more device support.
I do not work for Securifi but I do make an effort to communicate thoughtfully with them and provide feedback from my handful of implementations. I will add a more capable remote control to my todo list and see what can be done. Currently Securifi is up against significant levels of effort with the upcoming release of the Almond 3 and supporting firmware upgrades for the A+, A2015, new Securifi sensors and adding to the supported device list. So no promises, but I think now that there supported device list has grown, the firmware is maturing, a capable remote would bring a nice feature set to the Securifi supported device list.