HOV lanes are ineffective around here, and actually makes traffic worse. I'd love to see them go. I'd much rather see them turned into some kind of long-range, high-speed lane that's cut off from other lanes except at occasional, slower speed transfer points.
I've never actually used the HOV lanes illegally outside of occasionally using one to pass a left-lane hog holding up traffic. Doesn't inconvenience anyone else and actually improves the flow of traffic. That said, it still makes me uncomfortable.