> never really stunning.

This is relative. You might not think native flowers and plants are stunning, and that a manicured lawn is, but I do! And lawn rules might prevent me from obtaining my version of “stunning”. This is something…you want to defend? A lack of freedom to do what one wants with something they own?

Yes, within some narrow bounds. I’m not forced to buy in a place with HOAs, it’s my choice if I want to sign up for community rules.