Most HOAs are run by little tyrants ;and many homebuyers are NOT made fully aware of all the restrctions by the seller or real estate agent.Full disclosure might lose a home sale,and seldom happens.The potential buyer may well find only a reference to restrctions as on file ,meaning a trip to the county courthouse is needed to get the details.
I have seen the shock of a homeower when he finds many normal uses of his property are forbidden or restricted.
When you give a group power to control your neighbor be sure that power will be used against you as well.
I've lived in all sorts of places from large acreage to subdivisions with 8,000 square foot lots. And let me tell ya, on 8,000 square foot lots you are going to have the jackass who thinks he can open up his 12 foot driveway into his own personal body shop, keep his three dogs outside barking all day, line up all his unused furniture down the side of his house and basically operate like he's on a 50 acre ranch.
I have absoutely no argument to what you said.
How about buying a home in Colorado and later learning that you cannot collect rainwater from your roof to water your garden/yard.
Home Owners Associations, Petty tyrants, bureaucrats, zoning laws & building inspectors: I understand Daniel Boone’s comment about when he could smell the smoke of a neighbor’s chimney then it was time to move.
(mutter, mutter, mutter.... /rant)