I only have 3 visual Echo units aside from tablets (which I ponied up to remove ads) On Echo Spot, which has no room for a bunch of extraneous BS, and 2 Echo Show 15 inch units. The good thing is, there's only two that require editing the crap off my home screens, and usually easy to find, even after they bury it in some submenu. On 2 it's no big deal, except it shouldn't happen. AT. ALL. It's been a while since I've had to chase off any of those unwanted changes for now, so they're good. The widgets on the 15 inch shows are great for mother-in-law and wife to schedule and make shopping lists and use timers the 3 Killer apps for them. For me, it helps me keep them in line...LOL

The Tablets do their own thing, as I use them for 10" echo show devices mostly, but the grandkids can play on them without killing my iPad or phone... big bonus when they are here, since the parents never taught the kids to live without screens for entertainment. Gotta be flexible in that realm. Now hiding the guns ever time they come over... different set of issues... Sometimes I'm glad they let me come visit them instead. I like my normal placements on the boom sticks.

In November, Alexa will be celebrating their 10th birthday.   What do you think amazon will do?  You think that is when the AI with subscription will be released in addition to other devices?

I'm thinking that the Echo products have done more than they ever hoped for as far as marketing, so no regular charges will come about. However, there may be some premium services introduced that may have a price to pay. So far, the amount of rogue changes they make every year with little or no introduction, is insane and sometimes difficult to keep up with, as often the new releases of software have new settings with defaults that are not exactly fun to deal with. Constantly having to shut off things that were not there last month is annoying. If they can figure out how to add things as options you have to choose, instead of opt out of or turn off... that'd be nice.

All in all, I think the echo system will remain at it's current cost. The cost of the devices, There are cheap ones and expensive ones, I fall in the upper middle section in that as far as my purchases on some, but I do have a fair number of Dots around the house I have 3 rooms with multiple dots, one with a dot and spot, one with 3 devices including a 15 inch Show, and a second 15 inch show in the kitchen. I haven't updated my device list on here in forever. I'm down to 4 tablets now, as I gave away the smaller slower ones. Having 4 10 inch ones left... Most of my Dots are with clocks now, only two that are biscuit only.
Crazy how fun they are to own and how annoying they are at the same time. But I can't see why Bezos and friends would kill their own business by charging for a basic (what they offer now) electronic assistant. It pays them back so many ways it's unfathomable. Things may escalate soon and we may see some new level of tech that would make charges valid... but not the current stuff. The biggest "killer apps" for the Echos as far as I can tell, really levels off at music and lights and timers. Of course they do more, but truly, those are the base line functions that are likely used the most. I am not just judging by my uses, but by several other people I've visited with the Echos in their homes.

Light bulbs generally will turn on after a power failure. That seems to be the safest way to address power failures. If the power goes out, you want lights to turn on as soon as power returns in case you're in the dark.

You're probably correct. I think the manufacturer's idea is flawed though.

•   If I am in the dark with power, I ask Alexa to turn on the light and she does.
•   If I am in the dark without power, I can't ask Alexa and if I could she can't turn on the lights.
•   If the power is restored, I just ask Alexa to turn on the light as i normally would and she will. 
•   If I am not home and the power is restored, all the lights are on wasting electric until I get home. Could be days.

Guess I'll just deal with it. Thanks

are you saying your plugs and switches are turning on too?    sorry, but as far as I know, that cannot happen.   Power outages would turn off plugs and switches.   

Well, I guess I'm just lucky. These are the switches:
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07WWYQJFR/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0C2VYH5FX/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1

are you saying your plugs and switches are turning on too?    sorry, but as far as I know, that cannot happen.   Power outages would turn off plugs and switches.