What are the disadvantages of hints in Oracle?

Can you elaborate on the potential drawbacks of using hints in Oracle? As a practitioner in the field of cryptocurrency and finance, I understand the importance of optimizing database performance, but I'm curious about the negative consequences that hints might have on an Oracle database. Do hints tend to obscure underlying performance issues, making it harder to diagnose and fix problems? Additionally, are there scenarios where hints can cause unintended consequences, such as increased resource usage or reduced query efficiency? Finally, are there best practices or guidelines to follow when implementing hints in order to minimize the potential disadvantages?