Maybe you think soil moisture sensors don't work, that's okay, you can call me out. My job is to push the envelope and make you think, and you are allowed to push back. Let's have a constructive conversation.
I will agree that weather-based, ET, controllers have the potential to be better than a timer, however, I would argue that mass adoption is low, and the systems out in the wild, a majority of them do not operate correctly, and they leave a shit ton of doubt in the mind of the consumer.
I would also say that before you take a stance, and before you disagree with me, when was the last time you installed and programmed an irrigation system to run fully automatically using a soil moisture sensor?
If your answer is never, then you need to listen, learn, and give it a try, before you take a position.
I believe that if you asked a random stranger on a park bench, or the next person that you sit next to on an airplane, what tool would be best suited to automate a sprinkler system, they would guess a soil moisture sensor.
When you tell them that this technology is not readily available, they will be shocked! I say, "readily available" because although it is available, it is either too costly for the everyday system, or too basic and doesn't provide the correct data or automation.