That’s right Chris. Smart bulbs tend to be good for lamps that aren’t connected to a switch and can be always powered on physically. But for anything controlled by a wall switch, it’s typically better to get a smart switch to replace it. That way you still have a physical control that works with your automation. Here area couple threads that discuss this choice.
As far as compatibility, if you stick to zwave and zigbee, integration should be easy and painless; and they are generally compatible with other systems if you ever move away from ST.