Nobody took this guys 'Freedom'. When he bought this house 2 years ago he KNEW the HOA bylaws. That's mandatory before closing.
So he had the 'Freedom' to not buy where there's a HOA with rules he doesn't like. He had the 'Freedom' to go to the Board and seek a waiver. And he has the Freedom to MOVE where there is no HOA.
In effect what this guy did was infringe on the Freedom of others who WANT to abide with the HOA bylaws.
It's like that old saying: Your Freedom of expression ('speech') ENDS at my nose (or vise-versa).
I am amazed we have our very own HOA nazi in our midst. How cute.