The only issue with doing it this way is that the UI to call the script isn’t as nice as calling the notification service directly, but it isn’t too bad to switch to yaml mode and populate the parameters once you get used to it.

I utilize scripts for all of my notification needs. It allows me to utilize logic based around certain criteria, like this on that will only notify family members at home. If no one is home it will wait and notify the first person to show up. This also allows me to be able to quickly toggle notifications for my wife when I’m testing automations with notifications.

alias: Notify People at Home
fields:
  title:
    description: The title of the notification
    example: Laundry
  message:
    description: The message content
    example: Washer Finished!
sequence:
  - if:
      - condition: state
        entity_id: zone.home
        state: "0"
    then:
      - wait_for_trigger:
          - platform: numeric_state
            entity_id: zone.home
            above: "0"
    else: []
  - parallel:
      - if:
          - condition: state
            entity_id: person.bob
            state: home
        then:
          - service: script.notify_bob
            data:
              title: "{{ title }}"
              message: "{{ message }}"
      - if:
          - condition: state
            entity_id: person.mary
            state: home
        then:
          - service: script.notify_mary
            data:
              title: "{{ title }}"
              message: "{{ message }}"
mode: queued
icon: mdi:exclamation-thick
max: 10

You can create a generic thermostat with a switch and temperature sensor. I do this for my 3D printer enclosure when I needed to keep it warm in my basement with a smart switch and a cheap plug in heater.

https://www.home-assistant.io/integrations/generic_thermostat/

I use a Honeywell Z-Wave thermostat with Home Assistant. All local and I not only do I have schedules based on time of day, but it also adjusts the temperature based on if people are home or not.