You are so right. My disabled Nephew has just had a system installed. He is wheelchair bound and has trouble with coordination.
He can now control his environment around him. Drop in to family and friends for a chat. Turn the TV on. Alter the heating etc.
I see the Luddites are already commenting. I suppose the same comments were made when remote controls for TV's first came out. "What's wrong with getting up and turning the TV over by hand. That's why god gave you leg's etc"
It's not about laziness. It's about control/time saving and safety. We have some lights in the house (on the stairs for example) that come on automatically when somebody is there.
At first it does feel like a gimmick. But as you get used to the convenience, it actually feels weird to not have it.