So, now I feel foolish, because I typed out what the problem was, and then I decided I better verify, and it seems that an OpenHAB/Z-Wave descriptions update, probably years ago at this point, addressed this and the the channel for “switch” does look like it can de-power the switches, even with the 8-tap local protection on.
I would swear that this didn’t used to be the case, but… now I can’t prove it. Maybe I was just crazy all along. Perhaps it got fixed when I did the firmware updates after this thread and I just never realized it.
But yes, now I can just script OpenHAB to toggle the physical power to the fixtures in a room when their bulbs drop off the wifi, after which point tapping on the Inovelli switch physically should trigger the scenes as expected!
Indeed they do, but I meant that since the new switches seem to behave the way I need them to I have some additional rooms in my house that need switches. 
And motion sensors. I’m kind of unreasonably excited now.