As
@ktuludays says, smart technology. So complicated as compared to flicking a switch. I'd rather get off my backside and flick a switch/turn a knob than go through the rigmarole of, finding my phone, putting a pass code in, scrolling through to find an app, then scrolling through various menus to find the function I want just to turn a light on. Imagine, sitting there in semi-darkness because it's not quite dark enough to warrant getting up to put a light on. Out of the corner of your eye you think you see a spider. By the time you go through all that faff the spider has found a mate and produced lots of little spiders. My method, i.e. getting off your backside, you will have been up, turned the light on and killed the damned thing before it could get used to the sudden brightness!
And I wouldn't want a cat/dog/budgie or any other animal. They take far too much looking after and cost lots of money to line vets pockets.