BillB

I've been using the Venstar T1700 one-day programmable with an attached Insteon 2441V. I've had no problems with these; they've been very reliable. I was hoping to use the Insteon 2441TH integrated thermostat for a cleaner look, but after hearing the horror stories about them I went with the Venstars instead.

With the raspberry pi, you don't need another computer (more accurately, it IS the other computer). You could run io_guys DSCLink program on it. It communicates with the EVL-3 locally and allows the ISY to learn the status of the alarm. You are correct about the outside access vulnerability with the EVL-3, but for those of us with a DSC system and an EVL-3, it's a great way to integrate the DSC into the ISY. Not only can you develop logic around the alarm status, but also zone status as well. I have integrated all my DSC motion zones into my ISY lighting programs so that I can turn on lights based on where someone is expected to be walking. Lighting a path, so to speak.