"Retire" devices

I would like to be able to retire devices in HA.

Right now I am forced to delete devices that are no longer available (e.g. the TV breaks or fridge is
replaced).
But when you delete a device you also lose the ability to access the associated database data.

If there were a retire feature, then the device would still be available for database access whilst at the same time not showing as unavailable everywhere else.

Ideally this would also work for re-appropriated devices such as smart sockets. When the socket gets a new name (because the consumer changes), the old name should be retired and now deleted/replaced. Otherwise again all data access is lost.

Thank you for your consideration.

Alex

Why not just disable it?

Because then you cannot use the device anymore.

Take power sockets. They will be named after the connected appliance, e.g. Sony TV.
No the Sony TV dies and you connect a Samsung TV.

Disable: You cannot monitor the new TV.
Delete: You cannot look at your old data.
Rename: You cannot look at your old data because it is stored in the DB under its old name.

Retire: You can rename/reuse without limitations.