My w/d is connected to smart things, but once the power goes off, or even if the cycle ends, or pauses, the remote control disconnects. Is there a solution to this? Or should I give up on the grand idea of controlling my laundry remotely?
Give up, it is a safety feature world wide !
Sounds like a feature, not a bug 
Not sure of the value of still being connected to it when someone would have to physically be near it to take the clothes out, put more dirty washing in and add detergent etc.
Maybe for the washer, but if I want to add time to the dryer, I should not need to be next to it, right?
Can I override the Smart Control to be enabled by default?
I hate this “feature” too. Wish there was a hidden menu option to disable that or enable smart controls permanently.
Yeah, no doubt some incompetent lawyer who can barely operate a washing machine or dryer decided that smart features were a liability, rendering the product useless for everyone. This is typical compliance nonsense, legal jargon that makes products useless, and Samsung is par for the course.