JD2035RR posted:Admittedly, I'm skeptical of Alexa/Echo, Google Home, etc. - not because of the cool stuff it can do, it was cool how you used it to turn on the layout, but because of privacy concerns.
Actually, that may be a legitimate concern since a number of reports have indicated that Alexa/Siri/etc. can access things even in a passive mode (when turned off). Can't say that's true, or not true, because I don't have either of those fine "ladies" in my own home at the present time, but I'm comfortable controlling any trains here by myself with the tap of a button or two, be it on a hand-held controller or a screen.