From everything I have heard, the biggest problem with HOA's is no one goes to the meetings and participates. They end up leaving it to the busy bodies who make their life hell.
Winner winner chicken dinner.
That's often how it shakes out.
In the years that I was on the board we went through hell trying to get people to serve.
People showed up at the annual meeting, but 99% of the time it was to go into a diatribe about how we weren't taking care of X problem that was causing them Y angst.
Had they brought their concerns to the attention of a board member before? Why of course they didn't, because they're, you know, busy, and all board members have to do is constantly stroll around the community, interacting with nature and protecting property values.
I can't even begin to tell you how many times we had that happen.
It got to the point where if someone was bringing a problem that they were festering about they were put on notice that they were volunteering to head a committee to investigate a solution.
"Well I don't want to do that! It's your job!"
No, you idiot, it's not my "job," I HAVE a job. This is a volunteer position.
I finally resigned in large part over people in the community screeching like mad but not being willing to life a finger, only flap their jaws.