Also, it seems the criteria is 50%(+) of a section's residents, thus differing from 50%(+) of those casting votes.

A DR change requires more than 50% of association members (lots) in a section returning a document approving the change.

Also there's quite a diversity in the neighborhoods in OP, so people's opinions would likely differ. Fencing would be totally visible 360 degrees in neighborhoods with few, if any trees, whereas in heavily wooded areas conditions are much different. And that's just one example of diversity influencing opinions.

Exactly. Also, consider the cat is essentially out of the bag and I don't think a DR change DR could retroactively eliminte existing fences, etc.