[julianlam]

I recently went with an ecobee for my smart thermostat for exactly this reason.

Given Google's track record sunsetting services, it's an actual legitimate concern whether my device might get bricked one day. A smaller (yet firmly established) company providing one core service seemed safer to me, and bonus that it was Canadian too.

The other half of the coin is what to do if you need service. I've read enough horror stories here about dismal service to avoid Google for anything other than what I already use them for.