Except OpenSprinkler, which is the best local, non-cloud, home-assistant supported water sprinkler controller?

I have heard great things about OpenSprinkler which seems exactly what I would want. Unfortunately it does not qualify for my rebate.

I did not hear good things about Rachio.

Options according to https://www.calwater.com/docs/conservation/smart_controller_qpl.pdf are Aeon Matrix, Baseline, Blossom, DIG, Etwater, H2OPro, Hunter, Hydropoint, Hydro-Rain, Netafilm, NETRO, Orbit, Rachio, Rain Bird, RainMachine, Rain Master, Scotts, Smart Rain, Spruce, Toro, Tuco, Weathermatic.

At first glance, none of these support Zigbee which would be the optimal. But OK. Which brand should I trust the most in terms of great HA integration, no cloud and app requirements?

I can’t speak to any of the others, but I’m using RainMachine successfully. I have cloud disabled and it works fine locally over WiFi. For the most part I let RainMachine control nearly everything itself because it’s good at that and I prefer devices running their own mission so they continue to operate in case Home Assistant or the WiFi goes offline. I have one sprinkler zone that I control from Home Assistant to fill my pool, which works great.

Awesome, thanks for your feedback. Which RainMachine do you have? (Surprisingly the website says the product is “end of life”).

Any additional experiences would be very much appreciated too!

I have the 16 zone Pro.
Where are you seeing end of life? I didn’t see anything like that on their website.

Here: RainMachine Mini 8 - Forecast Smart Wi-Fi Irrigation Controllers
The Pro-16 is still supported though but out of stock forever.

Is there any hope this will become available again?

I guess they discontinued the mini 8 model.
As for being out of stock on the pro 16, maybe chip shortage related?