Automation - for the vast majority of people - isn't so much about having something "on the internet" (like a free roaming chicken?) but to be able to control it intelligently. For example when I set the alarm to leave my house I have a routine that kills any lights in rooms that might be left on, adjust the thermostats on my HVAC, kills all the ceiling fans, etc.

Conversely when I'm heading home I can remotely let my automation know so that it sets the recovery temperature on my thermostats and resumes the ceiling fans to help circulate things with the HVAC system. If I had a room without a ceiling fan but could still benefit from circulation this would be a nice solution along the same lines.

Combine systems like the above with occupancy sensors and zoning and energy savings are significant enough you notice them in your power bill.

And all of that runs on a box in my living room - cloud is for remote access only; I loathe cloud only automation systems :p