Yes all the automation will be hardwired back to my 2 main distribution boards. It uses a fair amount more cable than usual but just provides a much more maintainable approach when its all in. Sadly my once nicely plastered walls which I was hoping to not need to do, now all need replastering. That being said I wouldn't recommend this approach unless you are building a house from scratch or are doing a full on refurb.
On top of all the electrical cable I am also running a kilometre of network cable in. Again I have 2 racks, one by each distribution board that will house a 96 bay patch panel each and a 48 port POE switch. The plan is to run CAT5 every where for sensors and any distributed intelligence. For example some of the CAT5 although terminated to the patch panel will then split off to my own control boards to carry signals from sensors like PIRs, temperature sensors and perhaps even carry control voltages for things like actuators. One idea I've had is to either get electronic Radiator valves that I can retro fit or the slightly more invasive approach which is to fit valves inline with each radiator. This way I can use ternperature sensors and motion detectors as well as my own granular time patterns to control my central heating.
What I am doing is running a lot of CAT5 everywhere, some in the ceilings some in the floors etc, a lot will be unterminated but there for when I want to use it. Also I have 2 gang RJ45 faceplates everywhere as I will be using CAT5 for phones, web connections etc etc.