The Geico commercial appears to have a ring of truth to it-NO THANKS!
The commercial is obviously an over-the-top humorous depiction

.
The truth:
1. Approved front yard trees and shrubs...Yes. For example, no out of place looking
palm trees in a desert-themed community. Logical?
2. Looking in trash cans...No.
3. Cutting down hanging plants...No.
4. Checking the height of mailboxes and sawing them off...No.
I don't see the point of people who don't live in an HOA denigrate the concept and those that live in one. Really, who cares where someone else lives

?
However, I do think that the originator of this topic, where he seemingly rubs it in that someone else mows his lawn, left it open to anti-HOA comments

.