I am with you there - the only HOA fees that absolutely need to exist is to service an elevator if it's a required part of your building.

Other than that many HOAs exist to fund the lawsuit against the developer for 20 years. <- this part was just a joke

so who is in charge for organizing repairs/replacement of common area things? Fences, parking lots, elevators, roof, pool, dog park, interior carpets, re-painting walls, etc?

I guess i’m thinking of a condo HOA. Maybe some of that is less relevant in a neighborhood with single family homes?

I do agree some HOAs are awful. But many actually help keep a place from looking shitty and from collapsing like the condo tower in florida a few years ago.