I'd like to add that I'm over 40 years old and I just purchased a bunch of these devices for my home. I'll have an Echo in at least 4 rooms. It will be connected to my garage doors, some of my lights, my thermostat and we'll use them to play music.

I don't think they are "against the natural order of things". They have some privacy problems but they also have the potential to change our lives in small ways that are valuable.