Thanks for your reply.
Since I knew absolutely nothing about deCONZ, MQTT and Node-RED when I started this project to replace the Hue Bridge, I decided to go "baby steps".
For this reason, yes, I'm in fact using the deCONZ software. I even started the whole thing by downloading the deCONZ Raspian image from the CONBEE II page, and used this installation as the "base system". From there, every time I intended to add a new component, I imaged the micro SD card before ever attempting to add anything else software wise.
By reading about the zignee2mqtt.io project I did imagine I could do without the deCONZ software and some intermediary components, but to tell you the truth I was afraid to try such a progressive modus-operandi. Since I was having success at each step mentioned above, I just went with what I had working.
The good about the deCONZ software is that it has this nice web interface that allowed me to try each and every step by switching lights on/off in order to verify if the command was indeed received by the last installed component in the chain of software components.
Over time I may become a little more fluent in the above mentioned technologies and may try your approach.