Diving in

I've been fully into the Google smart home, but after dealing with delays and wrong devices triggering I'm diving into HA. I am buying a just bought a Dell OptiPlex 3050 i5-6500 w/ 8gb ram and 256gb nvme to install HAOS on.

The devices I have are: 2 Lifx bulbs 3 Nanoleaf Essentials Matter over Thread bulbs Soon to be Nanoleaf blocks Nanoleaf Sense+ Switch Several TP-Link Kasa outlets (EP10) Couple Wyze cams 3 Nest minis 3 Nest Audios 1 Nest Hub gen 2 Google TV Streamer 2 Chromecast with Google TV Nest Wi-Fi

Would like to be able to move most of it local. Definitely want to swap out the Lifx to Thread or Zigbee bulbs, as well as adding more. I am a renter so no installing new switches. Looking at something like the ThirdReality buttons to control lights. Also looking to switch to Thread/Zigbee outlets. I have a decent Thread network with devices and border routers already so leaning that direction.

Even with the Thread already in place, I still need a dongle to attach to the computer correct? What would be the recommended one? Not a fan of the big HA official ones. Also, do the ones listed as Zigbee/Thread connect both simultaneously or you select one on install? So will likely need two? And is this dongle considered the hub?

Thank that's all for now lol. Looking forward to going down the ESP rabbit hole too.

Thanks!