I agree, with that, if the neighbors agreed to the project, then ongoing perfection is not going to happen, their yard cannot be restored daily, they do not make hovercraft backhoes, and the dirt is not getting airlifted out of the backyard. Sounds like the neighbors are typical construction-ignorant types.

As for returning the yard back to better than original, by all means do that, but don't invite them over, I would say they would have to earn that.