It’s a fact that with an increasing population in a fixed space there will be ever more rules. Volunteering to be placed under even more rules for some benefit, real or perceived just moves the process along at a slightly faster rate. When you live under more restrictions it’s much easier to consider “one more problem item” that should be banned.
Freedom is being able to do as you please, whenever you please so long as you don’t infringe upon others. The ever creeping fine line is in how you define “infringing.” I suspect those who are vocally against HOA’s have a much narrower definition than those who are ok with them.