My best friend says he hates his Echo but I have to tell you no matter what is new in terms of HA centers around the Echo. I preordered a 6 pack of the Echo Dots because I too us the HA-Echo-Bridge and it works so well with Haiku Helper, the Omni and everything that I can't wait to have one in every room! I know you want tighter integration but it really does work well. I know can set Temps on my thermostats, turn on and off lights and press buttons. I wish it had some capability to ask "What is the temp on the Kitchen" or "Are the lights on in the Kitchen" and get an accurate answer but that would be tighter integration for sure!