ThorAlex

I get a strong sense there is a secret tunnel full of antiques behind that wall...?

Useless, you can't charge from USB-a!

(Seriously, it would be a fun project to stuff a USB powersupply in the 400v plug and a add a USB-c cable to mess with people at work... I'd do it but we only have 230v 3-phase outlets and that plug is probably too small.)

1. Get the sonoff and z2m and go zigbee wherever possible. It's worked very well for me, and the devices have to be local so no cloud bullshit. Z2M has a good page with supported devices listed, so you can check what works before you buy. I use mainly smart plugs and go on/off only but use bulbs where smarter control is needed. Plugs are mostly tuya from aliexpress for lights, with domesticly bought higher quality (aquara and hue) for higher demand loads. Bulbs are all Ikea, they are cheap and work well. You should literally never need a hub with zigbee, thought some devices might loose some features without the hub.
2. I have an ikea blind, the battery lasts a long time but there are guides online for hacking them to be wired. They do have some QC issues, i had to take min apart to fix a loose setscrew but it's worked perfectly after that. From what I've seen it's an assembly issue and not a design issue, so i would have no problem buying more.
3. How hard is it to replace the outlets? Here it's illegal to DIY so quite expensive, therefore I've gone all zigbee smart plugs. If you can DIY changing the outlets that is not an issue, and smart outlets may be a better option. I always try to think of what happens if something fails, some things can get very expensive at a later point. YMMV...

In Europe red are usuallly the cheap PVC ones while black has higher quality insulation and last much longer, well worth the price difference.

Some sort of live rat trap? My granddad had a moustrap where the mice had to go in, across a trigger that closed the door behind them, then climb up a tube, walk across a trap door that dropped them into a box and reset the door. hard to tell from the picture, but maybe this is a variation of that idea?

The 90's called and want their website back!