Replying to my own post here because the forum only allows noobs to place three hyperlinks in a post :).
I found this WT00Z-1 Linear Z-Wave 3-Way Wall Accessory Switch that is supposed to work nicely with the WD500Z-1 switches I have been looking at.
Checkout this feedback post on Amazon
It took me a while to completely understand how this thing worked but I love it now that I understand it. In order to pair this device directly with another linear Z-wave wall switch, you need to have some type of Z-wave remote that will pair them up. However, depending on what smart hub you’re using, you may not need to do this. I use Samsung SmartThings. Instead of pairing this accessory switch with my Linear WD500Z, I just used “Smart Lights” to control the WD500Z with this switch. In other words, when I turn this switch on, SmartThings turns the WD500Z on. When I turn this switch off, SmartThings turns the WD500Z off.
I have this switch at the top of my basement stairs. I have it set so that when I turn this switch on, it turns on the stairs light AND the basement lights. Since I’m using SmartThings to control what happens when I control this accessory switch, I can make anything happen when I use it. The possibilities are endless.
So it seems that my quest for a “basic toggle” can be satisfied with this -BUT - ironically this thing costs $1 MORE than the load carrying WD500Z-1 switch! So could I still use the WD500Z-1 for the same purpose?
EDIT - OK I did some more research and think I know more now but I still need some help. Take a look at the last post / explanation in this thread by JDRoberts.
Basically the “scene controllers” (including the WT00Z-1 and ZWN-SC7-W) have the ability to communicate DIRECTLY to the switches with nearly instantaneous off/on response. This is important because the v2 ST hub still doesn’t support local processing yet (really?) not to mention what happens if the internet connection is down.
The key here seems to be first establishing this direct connection with a scene controller device & its associated switches and THEN using the Smart Things hub as a secondary communication mechanism. This seems like the the best of both worlds without trade-offs.
From what I am reading all of this seems to be possible but the exact recipe and steps aren’t clear. For instance I think I need one of those Minimotes to establish the direct connection but then I can somehow dissociate it so the ST controller can take over but in such a way that the direct connection initially still sticks.Not sure however if this causes state confusion when the button is pressed at the scene controller.
Am I getting all of this right?