I used to manage an energy bill of £millons at a time when smart meters were unheard of so energy readings were essential. I had them taken once every week and entered them on a spreadsheet so that I could jump on any high users. Once having got the habit I took it up myself and have kept reading the my meters every week for the last 35 years or so, which I guess makes me a bit of an anorak about the subject. I don't have a smart meter in part because nobody has recently offered me one, but when I was given the opportunity I declined until they came up with a truly universal meter as I did not want to keep changing them every time I changed supplier.
My old house used to have meters indoors (although in different places), but my new one has the meters outside and although it may be easier for the meter readers, it means every Monday morning, rain or shine, I have to go outside to read the meters. I agree that they don't really help you save energy (I think Phil has it about right) but I don't like the idea that you can be cut off remotely either by design or by accident, or these days by some Russian hacker.
Mike.