Maybe I could have had the electrician do things differently? Like I said, this is not my expertise but I do ask questions and try to understand.
I am not sure what it would have taken to do the hard-wiring. What he did do was install a plug and then plug the ChargePoint into the plug. I suppose someone could steal the ChargePoint off the side of the house--unscrew it from the wall and unplug it and poof! It's gone. I guess if it was hardwired, that would be harder to do. On the other hand, it is sort of hidden behind a bush and really, I don't worry about crime in my neighborhood, so I think I am safe. At the same time, if I decided to move, I could unplug the ChargePoint and take it with me. So it is an either/or situation, depending on which way you look at it.
The point is, you need to do some research, ask questions, and get the right answer for you. You also need to ask yourself if you actually *need* an EVSE. Maybe you have a NEMA plug close by and you can just use the cable that came with your car. The NEMA plug is the same type of plug that you would have with an oven or dryer. I have read several comments that say that ovens and/or dryers usually get plugged in once, and that's it. They are not being plugged in/unplugged all the time and are not designed for constant in and out, which could occur with a NEMA plug and using a cable for your car (lots of in and out). My take is that each person's situation is going to be different, depending on their house layout, where they have a garage/plugs/breaker box and so on.
For me, I am glad we had the ChargePoint installed although by the time we had everything done, the cost was close to $2000 (parts and labor). I realize this might not be in everyone's budget. Think it through and make an informed decision. Good luck!