You can use these devices with HomeKit and firewall then off from the internet so they can no longer phone home. I have mine brought into home assistant with the HomeKit controller integration and it’s on a WiFi network with no connection to the outside world. The downside is that it can’t receive a firmware update.
Hue Bulbs are zigbee. They weren’t bricked. You can use them with any zigbee adapter plugged into home assistant, hubitat, etc. I believe you are thinking of the hue hub that began requiring a hue account for “security reasons”
You can use these devices with HomeKit and firewall then off from the internet so they can no longer phone home. I have mine brought into home assistant with the HomeKit controller integration and it’s on a WiFi network with no connection to the outside world. The downside is that it can’t receive a firmware update.