There's one thing keeping my Echo plugged in: AnyList integration. I can say "Alexa, add eggs" and it adds eggs to my AnyList shopping list. With a HomePod, I have to say something like "Hey Siri, using AnyList add eggs to my grocery list" or something like that. It's way too clumsy.
I'm not the parent commenter but I'm using Siri on my HomePod minis all the time. Turning on / off lights. Regulating the temperature, setting timers, asking for temperature outside, stopping the music.
Unfortunately Siri isn't that great so you'll often run into "Waiting for it", "One moment" and "Working on it" replies.