You can get hot water for way cheaper using solar hot water than PV. I can’t speak to the maintenance.
When it was first a thing - solar hot water was expensive and pv was very expensive.
Then I over time the prices dropped. Sites like https:://sunelec.com made me think... I could afford a pallet of panels... or a container!
Also, pv water heating wouldn't strictly require an inverter.
As to the maintenance, I recall the carter vs reagan white house situation.