I don't think you know what someone without HOA experience looks like. I've had houses in HOA regulated neighborhoods, village regulated neighborhoods, and unregulated, and I definitely prefer the village and HOA.

This shouldn't have to be said, but stop moving to regulated neighborhoods and then bitching about an authority you voluntarily accepted. Do you have agency? Of course you do. But face the facts, regulated neighborhoods are nice. They are desirable. And so you want to move there but then have your feelings hurt that you're not allowed to shit the place up. Boo god damn hoo.