[southerntofu]

> ads often do a little bit of favor by providing variance

If your neighborhood needs ads to have variance, it says something really sad about it. You don't need gray concrete everywhere in order to build dwellings. Some cities like Cuba overflow with city gardens to feed the locals.

> As for claim about accidents: how about murals, decorative lights on houses, big brightly lit windows?

Murals are not a problem: they're part of the environment, not something designed to stand out of the street (literally). As for flashing or strong lights, they are indeed a problem in my view.