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I couldn't agree more with you that the root of many of these problems - the majority I'd say - are down to people (leaseholders, co-freeholders, and third party, offshore, anonymous freeholders) seeing property as an investment rather than as a place to live. And speaking as someone who sits on the board of RTM directors I'm well aware of the kind of squabbles you're talking about, and I could well do without them.
However, there are levels to this stuff. I faced eviction proceedings from an aggressive freeholder for having the temerity to pursue that RTM claim (they said it was because I had dogs, but as our lease allows dogs, it was literally just lawfare). I watched my upstairs neighbour get pursued through the tribunal and county court system for a 'debt' which he'd already paid - by the time it got to court he was on the hook for £22k had the case gone against him. I've watched that same freeholder chase five of our leaseholders through court for parking fines in a car park which had been confirmed as being for our use by FTT and by the county court based on that FTT. I've watched the freeholder trouser £100k in damages to a boundary wall, then attempt to charge leaseholders for its repair. I've watched them add admin charges to every dispute, despite them not being allowed by the terms of our lease, and taking anyone who argues the point to court.
No-one's saying that RTM or share of freehold is perfect. Christ knows it isn't. But compared to being in a property with an aggressive, unethical freeholder, one who owns the managing agent, both of whom have a legal team on retainer? It's like a breath of fresh air.
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ReekBlefs
Given the amount of work I get from internecine RTMCo squabbles and share-of-freehold fights, I'm far from convinced that's true. The fundamental problem with flats is that there's a common structure which needs to be maintained, unlike with a house. And for reasons which are more cultural than legal, I suspect, the UK generally seems singularly ill-equipped for dealing with the conflicts that this inherently produces, not least because property is seen as more of an investment rather than simply somewhere to live.