Any actual benefits to HOAs?

First of all, I've got no idea why I subscribed to this sub as I'm a home owner in Australia and we don't really have a similar equivalent to a HOA, but I read posts here mainly as entertainment and "WTF" value.

That being said, if you were to buy a house in the States that's part of a HOA now in 2024, would it be seen as a net benefit or detractor? My test for something like this would be if the agent representating the property would bring it up as a benefit or actively try to hide the HOA aspect.

I'm asking because it just seems like HOAs are universally run by assholes that are completely out of touch with reality, but I also acknowledge the bias in this sub.