Just in case you missed it, recently we announced that you can flash a new firmware to your Home Assistant Connect ZBT-2 to turn it into a Zigbee repeater. This lets you use them as Zigbee devices to help plug any signal gaps in your mesh network. As we’ve optimized the antenna and made it look great in the home, we think it’s the best repeater out there… plus you can control the RGB light at the top .
I set my 2nd ZBT-2 as a router on the other side of the house a few weeks ago. It took a few days or so to develop a decent signal, but otherwise it wasn't any trouble to get it going.
I have at least than one outlet/plug in each room, and also in a large wooden shed about 50 feet from the house. That's besides having Philips Hue bulbs inside & outside, throughout. So at the moment I can't really say more than that re the ZBT-2 at the moment (other than having control of the light being a novelty [g]). I had switched from ZHA to Z2M some months ago (more so for curiosity's sake), but between that and the last 6 month's of updates my mesh is performing as well as ever.
I plan to gradually remove some outlets & a Tuya USB repeater from the Living Room where the ZBT-2 repeater exists. I overloaded the LR with repeaters as that's the closest to the shed, where I used to have issues with motion sensor connectivity. In no rush at the moment, though. (recovering from surgery).