Servers: Are we there yet?

Exactly; you need a functioning router so the wireless controller(e.g. ipad, android tablet or phone) using the control software can access the server.

Psag, to play music stored on a local drive connected physically to a one box renderer or stored a NAS(e.g. Synology, Qnap, WD MyCloud, etc.) connected by ethernet or wifi to the router you don't need your Internet Service Provider's system to be running. That only matters when you want to listen to Tidal, Qobuz etc. 
Wifi Routers are pretty reliable and inexpensive vs. other gear in this equation. Cheers,
Spencer

oblgny,
Why are you saying that the vault has to be connected to the internet to play?
Why are you saying that your computer has to be on for the vault to play?  
After reading about it, the vault acts as a NAS and has internal storage. You should be able to play files stored in the vault device without internet nor computer. If you have another NAS(e.g. Mycloud, Synology, etc.) connected to your router, any files stored there should be accessible by the Bluesound app and played without computer nor internet.
Yes, you need internet to play streaming content (e.g. Tidal, Quobuz). If you have Bluesound app on a wireless device(e.g. tablet or phone) can't you control the vault wirelessly without a computer? Reviews seem to say that you can. 
Sorry, if I misunderstand, but it sounds like you are inadvertently making statements that kill Bluesound's lack of functionality and probably aren't true. With best intentions, Cheers,
Spencer

oblgny,

Please answer my questions to you posted now at the bottom of page 1 of this thread. 
Without any detailed explanation of the facts, this all just sounds like something about the setup was misunderstood. No big deal, we've all done that :-)
However, it's ridiculous and irresponsible to tell us the Bluesound needs the internet to function when not streaming an internet music service, if you can't explain why having internet makes a difference. So far no one has suggested any reason why that would be a requirement to use that product. 
Let's be fair to Bluesound here...personally I have no stake here, just don't want to say a product slammed with false conclusions. Cheers,
Spencer

oblgny,
If a reader concludes that internet is required to listen to your own library, that might affect their consideration of the product. Eliminating potential customers is certainly a "slam" to a manufacturer. As arafiq further explained, internet is not required unless you want to stream internet content such as Tidal or Qobuz. Sure, no harm intended, but please just let that point go...

Trying to be helpful here, every product in the category will require internet connection to stream from music services. Every product should not require internet to play your own library of music (whether stored in a drive plugged directly into your player/computer/streamer or stored on a NAS(networker attached storage) device which is plugged into your router(often in a basement etc., often wherever internet comes into your home). 

The Sony is supposed to be pretty simple and wholly contained, that might be the ticket for you.

I've been investigating the Aurelic Aries Mini for the last few weeks. There are a couple of detailed threads about it's sound and its use on computeraudiophile. I suggest that you read them closely and proceed with caution if the content is hard to digest. Many on that sight are very technically capable and that crowd still reports many nuanced setup tweaks of home network and computer/tablet settings to get to 100% user-friendly operation of the Mini and the other Aries products. Overall the company is doing a lot of great things to make this a super product line, but there are speedbumps on that road and you need some patience to get it right; reportedly more so than with the Bluesound or Sony stuff. Cheers,
Spencer

oblgny,

Glad the Sony worked out for you. 

I am still deciding my next move for a renderer/streamer. I've been captivated by the pre-launch discussion surrounding the Sonore Microrendu, which is coming out sorta-soon maybe, with price TBD. Lively debate on Computeraudiophile about it.
There's a good chance I'll go DIY, with a friend building a low powered Linux-based computer to use strictly for local and streaming audio, controlled by Daphile, Volumio or similar free software. It's the wild west out there in digiland! Cheers,
Spencer