Ramsha - most of the regulation for a STR is controlled by the neighborhood HOA.

PEST CONTROL: Your Rental Unit has been inspected and deemed to be pest-free.

You may want to remove yourself from the situation since you are emotional about the situation.

He is teaching them to get their personal lives under control, period.

You will get the greatest returns and have more control. 

A quality deal you have control (under contract, seller only wants to work with you, etc.)3.) 

They cannot arbitrarily make wild gambles because they feel like it - they have to operate within established risk parameters that are approved by several regulatory bodies and internal controls.

If so, consider that with a stock you have NO CONTROL whereas with your rentals you have quite a bit of control over how the business is run and how successful it is.

Do you have control on the management group/rent price? 

Have a bit more control of my time.