Why does HomePod rely on iPhone for every feature?

Soo, I bought a HomePod in December to replace my Nest Mini, at first it was a great idea, but it didn't really turn out well. It really needs the Iphone for EVERYTHING. I can't add a reminder without my phone nearby even tho the HomePod is connected to iCloud, I can't play music from Spotify without my phone nearby, I can't run a shortcut without my phone nearby, atp it isn't a smart home assistant,

[Edited by Moderator]