If I could bend, I think I’d choose the earth nation. Imagine how much cool shit you could build. Need an extension on your house? Here’s a brand new stone wall in 30 seconds.
I would take it upon myself to solve homelessness, if it existed. You need a house? Done. You need a house? How many rooms? Done.
I would build so. much. stuff. It would get weird.
Honestly, this right here is the main reason I don’t believe any real-world bending would end any way other than Earth Kingdom dominance. Peaceful dominance, hopefully.
You can’t wipe out their infrastructure as long as someone is alive who knows how it’s done.
Oh, fire nation bulldozed your house because they felt like it? Well boom. Stomp stomp punch. New identical house made of stone.
Bridge collapsed to cause chaos? Stomp stomp punch, it’s back.
Don’t feel safe living out in the open where fire nation scouts could murderhobo you harder than my last D&D group? Stomp stomp punch, now you have a vast mansion underground in which you can simply… Not go above ground until you need to.
Of course, underground living isn’t simple as “hole in ground, hide all day” but still… There is 0 reason the EK shouldn’t go full Vietnam War tactics.
