“recall, he states that the reason to permit them for lights is that since it was customary to ask a non Jew to put on a light for Seudah Shlishis, it is not zilzul Shabbos. ”
Daas,
Correct. The yesod of Rav Moshe is that it has the same status as אמירה לעכו’ם and מעיקר דדינא even candles for Seudah Shlshis should have been asur, but for whatever reason the minhag was to rely on the shitas העיטור regarding candles, see Rema 376:2, therefore regarding lights the minhag is still relevant when using a clock. But anything else we have the issue of Amirah..