Short answer- your wife and builders won’t hate you.
Without a hub, the switches will work just fine as normal switches, and you can turn the light on and off no problem.
Long answer:
The switches will keep working just fine without a hub. You can turn the light on and off and dim it. Any control by associations, either from the switch to another device or from another device to the switch, will continue to work as Z-Wave associations are direct links between devices.
However anything that depends on the hub won’t work. Anything based on scene control, including multi-tap of the paddle or single tap of the config button, won’t work. And any other devices that control the switch OTHER than by hardwired 3way or by direct association won’t work.
So for some examples:
- Dimmer hardwired to light fixture, tap paddle up/down. Works, light will turn on/off.
- Dimmer hardwired to light fixture, hold paddle up/down. Works, light will dim up/down.
- Dimmer hardwired to power, associated to smart bulb via groups 2/3/4. Works, smart bulb control by direct association will work.
- Handheld remote directly associated to Inovelli switch. Works, direct associations don’t require a hub to function.
- Multiple Inovelli switches associated together to form a virtual 3way. Works, direct associations don’t require a hub to function.
- Motion sensor that turns on Inovelli switch with an ‘I’m Home’ scene. Won’t work, scenes require hub processing.
- Double tap Inovelli paddle to turn on all lights in that room. Won’t work, scenes require hub processing.