Doco,

I understand you predicament, but I question the need for so much automation if you indeed have a limited budjet. Ra can automate your lighting "yes". It can provide you with remote close contact solutions "yes". It can be installed before and after the fact,"yes".
BUT.. Homeworks or Vantage can do all that and more. Just home run you loads and invest in acouple of keypads and voila better solution same bread. Put switches in for time being if you have too. Also Vantage q-link eats RA alive!

Sound wise, go with a multi-room system that uses key-pads or whatever and use a pronto for home theatre with a good little system. Bingo your happy and you are not married to anyone including your bro-in-law!

If you want Crestron, make the "dough" and do it later and forget their audio solutions.


Twix