I blame the people who buy into those HOAs.
I love my HOA, it is almost powerless but has just enough power to plow the road in the winter, level MINIMAL dues to maintain the property, no power to seize property, etc. What it does do is protect homeowners who have investing a good deal of money in their home from new neighbors who want to drop a double wide on a vacant lot.
In the last 15 years I think it has only issued 2 or 3 liens for people who didn't pay their dues for several years.
As for the article, I still go back and blame homeowners. When you buy into a neighborhood with an HOA you know what you are getting into. The rules are stated up front, there are various covenants that restrict your uses and powers granted to the HOA. If you don't like their rules then don't move there. It really is that simply.
As I live in a very rural area I chose a small neighborhood with an HOA specifically because I wanted the restrictions to protect my property value. I also wanted the private road that our HOA owns. Yes, it costs more to live here, but the advantages are worth it and our restrictions are very minimal. When I looked at other HOAs and compared them I would say ours has almost no powers compared to many that I looked at . . . and rejected.