You make it sound irrational or somehow wrong. When driving on public roads I give up a lot of liberty -- hundreds of rules, fees, mandatory insurance but it's well worth it. Not just because driving itself provides a lot of value but because driving is better for everyone, and in particular me being part of that everyone, with less freedom.

Even in the extreme case like HOAs that enforce lawn height requirements. Yes it's a little insane but it's what keeps the neighborhood valuable and your property value appreciating.

The average person is pretty darn rational. Who wouldn't trade away liberty if they're better off having done so?

"but because driving is better for everyone"

maybe "driving with rules", but driving literally kills via exhaust fumes. if you own a tesla, you've already dumped so much pollution into the air...

"it's what keeps the neighborhood valuable and your property value appreciating"

some people don't care about this stuff. they realise their time on this earth is too short to spend it on "lawn height requirements".

"The average person is pretty darn rational."

Humans aren't rational. At all. Reason is a rare tool. Case in point: the current advertising complex.