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This stuff isn't very popular today but I've had an X-10 system in my house for more than 25 years. Most of the outside lights are on it. Several of the interior lights are, too. I have a timer which turns them on and off at various times i the day. I picked the controlled lights carefully, so that there would be lights in strategic areas of the house. I can walk away from the house at any minute and it will continue to look lived in because we've incorporated the timed lights into our lifestyle. Why is this important in this thread?

I have an X-10 module connected to alarm system that flashes all of the controlled lights on 1 second intervals when the alarm sounds. We've had enough false alarms over the years (have always had alarm systems, too) that I'm used to the light sequence but it can be very disorienting if you haven't seen it before. All of the critical areas outside are being "flash-lit". But there are none of the controlled lights in the master bedroom. Since we don't have kids, I can leave the pistol safe door open at night, making the rear night sights very easy to see, even with the other lights in the house flashing. My tactical flashlight is right beside the bedroom door. I decided that I didn't want to have to point my pistol at something just to light it up.

I hate to say this but I think false alarms are the best teacher. Like the OP, I've learned more about what I liked and didn't like because of them. I hate the tied together fire alarms because when they go off in the middle of the night, there is almost no way to figure out what is happening. We have a small house where the "mandated" ceiling mounts are literally within arms reach of one another. There is no practical way to figure out which of them has caused the alarm. They are a classic example of why there is no one-size-fits-all for alarm situations. You can anticipate all you want but until the thing goes off at 2am, you don't really understand what you are dealing with and how to make it better.

Just my $.02 worth.