Basically, I appended a paragraph saying an HOA is a form of government. Like all forms of government, once they start providing a service, discontinuing the service is near impossible due to the number of people viewing their loss of ‘free’ service.
Trying to micromanage the budget and cable inclusion is a losing proposition. By having pre-included cable, the oondo association largely limits the number of requests and complaints they get for satellite dishes.
I’ve also seen it go the complete other way the OP intends, once the bored people realize they can propose their ‘feel’ good ideas and then use HOA money to inact. Things like community beautification and value enhancement. Which means, making the common areas look nice. Which really means, the hobbyist gardeners running the subcommittee start spending $12,000+ a year ‘updating’ and ‘replanting’ flowers in the flower beds every month.