With minisplits entering the scene a basic heat or cool electric signal isn't even important anymore. A minisplit is designed to adapt by knowing how off your temp is, and aiming for that... much more energy efficient. Instead of coming on every 20 minutes, it just stays on all the time and puts out less differential, but it maintains the temp.<p>And all of these mini splits (at least many) have their own remote control and usually an app as well.
It is good they will continue to work at a basic level, in the home.<p>This is always my worry for smart tech in the house, that I'll end up buying three times - first I paid for the dumb light switch, then I swap it out for a smart one, then that stops working and I have to revert to a dumb switch, but have to buy one as I got rid of the original.