lol, yes the slanted pole was a basket ball net....It wasn't actually slanted, it's just the picture. One of the first things I did when we moved in was take an angle grinder to that thing. Damn thing was filled with cement. I grew grass right over the old concrete base.
I see your point abotu the bay window....I do like it thought because it gives a little more interior space. Also, if I open the side door on the garage I can see my cars from the bay window
And Yes, a lot of newer developments are limiting the garage size, and the distance that it protrudes from the front of the house. I know in Innisfil that was a big deal so they were shortening the garages, or cutting off the back corners for more house space.
My parents house had wood pillars, after ~15 years they rotted out on the bottom and became nice breeding ground for ants. And that was with my dad scraping and painting them every other year. They swapped them out for aluminium ones and haven't had any issues since.