It’s been a discussion from the beginning, but the short answer is that some home automation systems are primarily cloud-based, like SmartThings, and some are primarily local, like Vera, and each has pluses and minuses. There are also a number of other systems in both categories, again, each with their own pluses and minuses.
You just have to choose the one that works best for you, it’s unlikely that the corporate development philosophy for any one is going to change anytime soon.