The HUD class seems like it might be some legacy code that we don’t really need very much now. My HUD class just adds UMG widgets to the screen.
And this video describes it as a legacy class that helps with debug drawing nowadays since UMG replaces the need for canvas. WTF Is? HUD in Unreal Engine 4 ( UE4 ) - YouTube
I realized my game would be better off where as a pawn gets possessed, it sets up the UMG widgets to the screen, or in VR, attaches them to the motion controllers. It becomes easier to switch spectated pawns in multiplayer too. I can completely bypass even using a HUD actor.