If I have a handful of "smart" switches that will handle 802.1Q vlan tagging both at the perimeter and the core of my network, will the tags survive if there is a completely dump unmanaged switch ...

In the IP based Ethernet networks, data and voice services are often transmitted simultaneously over the network. Voice traffic, in particular, requires a higher forwarding priority than data traffic.

Have you been told that VLANs are the ultimate solution to your network woes? That they’ll magically secure your infrastructure, eliminate complexity, and solve all your traffic management headaches?

Relative newcomer to serious home networking here, looking for a little input about what I actually need to achieve my goals. I've seen guides including other VLANs -- VPN vs clearnet, management, etc ...