Enable creation of 'virtual nodes' for Z-Wave networks and (within HA) tying them to devices/entity/groups.

[Particpant]

Describe the enhancement

I would like to be able to create virtual nodes to represent non-Z-wave smart bulbs on my z-wave network, and configure within HA which devices or groups are represented by the virtual node. I want two-way communication with the Z-Wave network for those devices, so device associations can work bidirectionally and keep the state of the Z-Wave and non-Z-Wave devices in sync without requiring manual authorship of automations.

Device information

Command classes: Association, Multilevel Switch

Use cases

Z-Wave supports the concept of virtual nodes. For the real Z-Wave devices (excepting the controller) on a network, these nodes appear as though they are any normal Z-Wave device on the network, even supporting device associations. Though taking actions on those association signals will require that HA be up and running, and they won't be as fast as associations between native devices, being able to make a virtual node to represent some smart bulbs, for example, would make synchronizing the state between light switches and bulbs (there's basically no Z-Wave bulbs on the market these days!) far easier and less error prone than trying to do the same with HA automations.
I need the synchronization to be bidirectional as happens with real Z-wave associations, as a Z-Wave smart switch that is out of sync with the real smart bulbs may not send a "turn on/off" press signal when it is already in the on/off state, and similarly, dimming (and on-switch dimming status displays) does not function properly when there's a mismatch in state. Associations solve many of those issues more cleanly than HA automations can if HA can both create the nodes and simulate the basic command class behavior required across the zwave network.

Anything else?

No response

[Particpant]

Original ask, for general support for this concept for all protocols (https://github.com/orgs/home-assistant/discussions/3431) This request is specifically asking for support of the Zwave feature that would enable the other FR.