Yes fruit trees are often harder to take care of even if you don't want fruit. Fallen fruit can leave a mess. In general the trees aren't as long lived as a properly chosen ornamental. Some can be very attractive in bloom but that doesn't last long.

As I write this the ground under my nectarines trees is covered in eaten fruit thanks to some thieving coons. Nothing about most fruit trees is easy except in very favored locations.

I have a small yard in the city and grew a few fruit trees. Then my wife decided it was best to move my home orchard a few miles away to a larger site (her brother's pig farm).

I liked fruit trees in my little yard but my wife did not enjoy all the wasps on the fallen peaches on the ground (especially when our daughter's were very young). I also could not convince her of the differences between trees for fruit and shade trees. My peach bore well one year, but one day I came home to find my wife was mad about the lower branches when she mowed the lawn. She decided to trim all the lower limbs up to 7' on a 12' tall peach! Their went 1/2 my crop! I assure you sometimes growing fruit can ruin a marriage.

Thankfully I have space to grow them now away from our living quarters. In the city I had to battle squirrels and coons for the peaches. Out in the country I get bothered by deer browsing but the brother in law's dog sure does keep the coons and squirrels away. Much easier raising my peaches out there.

My little yard is now regulated to vegetables, raspberries and rhubarb only. And nifty ornamentals like magnolias.

Thank you for the insights. How many fruits normally left after birds and etc. I think I should start with just a couple first ;D

Thank you, spartanapples. Seems like I can't plant a cherry tree as our HOA probably won't like if I cover the tree with net :(

I guess it depends on how you feel about different t kinds of mess. Fallen flowers, pods, seeds, leaves and twigs from some ornamental can be much worse than the fruit from certain fruit trees. And if you choose trees that are well adapted to your area you won't have to worry Bout the spraying, netting, frost protection that others have mentioned. Granted, these may not be the same fruit trees at the top of your wish list, but with some research you might just get the perfect blend of ornament and fruit.