But a rental inspection proposal in my area was defeated because people showed up to protest.

Illiquid assets like real estate (or even insurance) at least help to insulate the average investor against this self-defeating behavior.There are long-term trends in asset classes that make them relatively cheap or expensive at any given time, in a historical context.

Needing the owners name defeats any purpose to act like the property manager (if you are the owner), since it will be clear that you are the owner.

I did not realize the power that I had and simply accepted defeat.

Nothing defeats a retail shopping center more than a nightmare for parking.

No, that would defeat the purpose and spirit of selling the home to a qualified affordable buyer.

If they want do that then they will need to get the property under contract and assign it to you, which defeats the purpose.

That would defeat the purpose wouldn't it?

I asked my buying agent, and he said he would rep me, but it would be 1.75% ("firm policy") vs the typical 3%, which equates to $7k and would almost defeat the purpose of this whole process.

I know millions of others have figured this stuff out so I'm feeling pretty defeated at the moment.