re: About to get into a fight with HOA over parking policy inside the community

HOAs are a double-edged sword.
Do they take away personal freedom to do (or not do) things with one's property? Sure.
But move to Mississippi or Alabama into an area without a HOA with strict enforcement and see if you can rely on your neighbors good graces to keep up with their shite.

I'll save you the trouble, in 999 places out of 1,000, the answer will be "No!". Welcome to the never-ending boat trailer rebuilding neighborhood. Or Trans-Cameros on blocks statuary garden.

On the whole, I'm happier giving up some personal freedom to a strict HOA and that mechanism protecting the value and quality of my neighborhood. That's just me. I don't have to Rage Against the Machine on every fine point of alleged personal freedom erosion.
So what I can't have junk cars piled up in my front yard?