GHook

So, I've been an ISY994i user for years and very happy with it's operations - I just set things up and left well enough alone. Now, I know that I'm late to the game here but I have acquired a bunch of smart plus (not TP-Link but should be compatible). I would like to integrate them and have read a bunch about just hosting a node server (RPi or VM) with Ployglot-V2 and a Kasa node server? Is that the best way to go? I would like something simple and easy. I've spent about 4 hours attempting to get a VM set up with polyglot-V2 and Kasa but as I understand it Kasa requires at least python 3.6 to function? Debian Stretch doesn't have v3.6 out of the box? Should I be using another distribution? I don't want a Polisy or eISY as I have too much hardware already. Thoughts?