PC/SC compatible stuff is out there if you know where to look (not affiliated with them) https://webshop.d-logic.net/products/nfc-rfid-reader-writer/...
(ignore the cards they include with the order, proper contactless smartcards or something like an OMNI ring https://store.nfcring.com/products/omni need to be purchased separately)
One can make this system as secure as the specs require it to be: brick clones, reject certain tag types, add encryption, add counters, perform analysis server side, etc.
Consider a "smart" door bell. Sure, it's easy to attach a camera to an RPi and a button, but I don't want to strap that to my front door without a nice box to put it in.
It has IDE because ESP32 has IDE.
I've had lots of half-baked ideas for things to do around the house that this would be very cool for, since I'm not 100% sure what functionality (and therefore hardware) I'll really need.
I have experience of programming for ARM M0 with Linaro, debugging over SWD. It was pain.
A few weeks ago I got Tiny2040, flashed with CircuitPython. I believe even a teenager can now do some microcontroller stuff. It's so unbelievably easy.
If so, keep in mind that a hammer would be as effective as any authorized contactless device.
For lower security scenarios like access to hotel rooms (where trust has already been established) it is sufficient. Plus using a case with proprietary screws, or even making it inaccessible from the outside can also help with security.
As they demonstrate in the video, you can open their example case with a screwdriver, so then you could either short some connections to release the door lock (if it's self-contained), or connect to the ESP to grab a copy of its firmware and configuration to connect directly back to whatever controller it talks to over wifi (if it's part of a larger system).
What is the benefit of your product vs theirs?
I have built stuff who could even compete with that.
