I'm an automation nut, which colors any opinion I have about this topic. But I would not own a pool without automation. I have what would be considered a simple pool (no spa, no water features), but I use the heck out of my EasyTouch (ET). It makes my life easier every day, multiple times a day. In addition to the Pentair VS pump and IC40 SWG, my ET schedules my pool cleaner (a suction-side vac) and my solar heater (include one or both of those on the list of things to control). I also have a gas heater, which the ET can handle along with the solar heater. If the pool owner has plans for controlling pool lighting, landscape lighting and a fire feature, in addition to everything else, then an IntelliCenter could handle all of that, too (don't buy an ET, it's dead tech).
Regarding alternate home automation to share these tasks, that's what I do. My pool light, landscape lighting, bug zapper, fountain, and other gizmos are on my home automation controller, not my pool automation controller. But even with that "split," I still max out what my ET can do. And while home automation could theoretically handle most if not all of the pool automation, I would never trust it to do so. I can't speak to the IntelliCenter, but the ET's age has one big plus: experience! It virtually never fails to do what it is supposed to do. I cannot say the same for my home automation system. I would never trust it to maintain the scheduling of a pool pump and SWG, and run valves, etc. Those are "mission critical" tasks that, IMO, can't be trusted to a home automation system. Pool and landscape lighting is fine. So what if they skip coming on or turning off on time. But coordinating an SWG with pump flow is not a simple thing, and if not done perfectly, every single time without fail, can become a dangerous hazard. I wouldn't even trust a mechanical timer with that task.
I also have an indoor control panel for my ET, which I use every day. I use it more than my phone interface. I think the IntelliCenter has a web interface, that would probably work well via an iPad bolted to an interior wall (I have one of those, too, for my home automation). I don't carry my phone around with me when I'm home, so the interior wall control is very handy for me. Being able to monitor my pool, and fire up the high-speed skimming or vac, or check on the solar heater, etc, without having to go out to the pool pad or sit at a computer in my office or find my phone, is really convenient.
Is pool automation expensive? I guess so, but so is a pool. So is a house. Why not include as much convenience as possible? A nice stove is expensive. So is a refrigerator. But I wouldn't even think of owning a home without appliances. I consider both my home automation and pool automation systems just two more really nice appliances. And now that I have both, I wouldn't want to do without either any more than I'd want to do without a dishwasher or a washer and dryer.