> End-of-cycle detection is really all that is ever needed for smarts anyway

To me that would be the least interesting part about a smart washing machine. Like when I start it, I can already see when it's going to be done. The part I'm really interested in is preloading and autostart it at a given time. Guess it's usecase related what one considers "needed for smarts"

So put a smart plug on a dumb Speed Queen, preset the knob and the buttons, and have it turn on at the time you wish.

Are there any other automation scenarios that you wish to address?