I have 2 echo dots and quite frankly I don't give a hoot, she can listen to everything for all i care as long as she does what I tell her too. Got Cortana listening too, and Google, and Samsung.
I basically use the dot to control the lights and lamps plus open/close the blinds etc.. We don't have central heating but dotty controls the Aircon and got a IR remote gas fire coming in a week or 2. I don't use all the expensive hue or hive stuff, all my bulbs are RGB wifi bulbs and I use a broadlink rm pro for IR and RF control.
Got the dots connected to sound bars with wireless subwoofers, costs less than a full echo and sound way better and in stereo (it aint the 1950's you know).
I play music locally from my Qnap NAS drive using Plex because Amazon Unlimited and Spotify don't share my elclectic taste in music and 80% of the stuff I listen too isn't there, plus it's FREE to play music my way.