I could never live in a HOA community. I am the type who will paint my mailbox orange and purple simply because you told me it had to be blue. I don't like the idea of people having control over what I do with my own property.
THAT said... for people who aren't as naturally defiant as myself, I can see some advantages to something like this.
I like the idea of all the community lunches and things like that.
I don't think it's fair to base your reax (good or bad) to a place off of one person who lives there. I live in a 70 unit blg, and it runs the gamut. Students, gay professionals, a small number of families, elderly women (no old men, oddly enough), musicians. I think some of us live here because they are so unique (it was a hotel in the late 1800's, converted maybe 10 years ago. 8 foot windows, 10 ft ceilings, and every single apartment is different from every other one. It has a lot of character). Some because it's a close drive to Purdue w/o having to live in West Lafayette. Some because it's downtown and close to work...
There would be no way to make an accurate assumption about other residents based off of me. Choosing to live in the same environment does not necessarily mean that you are on the same page as everybody else.
Not saying it's a cult, but I do have to make one response to yulia about something she said. A group doesn't have to be in poverty to be a cult. Some call Scientology a cult - and it has a whole lot of affluent members.