Unpopular opinion; Feel free to comment.

I leave them alone
Usually

i kidnap the villagers

i usually build a fortress around the village and when I take something from a chest I leave some emeralds to pay for them

Did that a couple of times.

Same

I built a mayor's house for a village. Then I proceeded to build 5 giant skyscrapers.

Nice. Did you modernise the village? Or just put the skyscrapers in amongst the hovels lol

I built new houses in the village style, replaced mossy cobblestone with normal one and gradually upped the size of the buildings towards the west.

I rob them of all their necessary life supplies and life stock as I proceed to make my way into a cave, in which I most certainly face my death

There we go, this was the energy I expected on here!

I only improve the mansions (turn them into Highblock Keep)

Mansions rock, tbh.

I typically lock the villagers up in their houses with the malicious intent to kidnap them and force them to work for me

I have stopped doing that.

I just loot the mansions, And I only trade with the villagers and leave them alone, Lol

Same, though I usually build a mansion basement.

What?

Nothing