I ignored mine for over a decade and it quietly turned itself from grass into a naturally low-growing ground cover that looks like clover. It never needs watering and the only mowing needed is to chop down the stray weed here and there. It's quite nice.
Edit: I should add that the plant that took over is native to the area.
Native plants conducive to your ecoregion. Kill your lawn isn't an end, it is a beginning to a more sustainable, ecologically beneficial mindset. Takes much much less time to maintain, looks gorgeous, and you'll see birds, butterflies, moths, bees, frogs, toads, etc that you've never seen before. When you work with nature instead of against it, it just clicks.
Native grasses here can’t be mowed short. Ticks/fleas are already an issue and I’d rather not make them worse. And imagine picking up dog poop in tall grass. No thanks. I’ll stick with my fescue
There is more than native grasses. Ticks are a result of mismanaged habitat, I don't have any in my yard despite them being around. I have dogs, no fleas ever either. If you don't want to do it, fair. But those aren't legit reasons.
I already have many of native trees in my yard. For the small clearing there is, fescue is the way to go. It probably depends on where you are but in my region this is what works best for 99% of people
I recommend talking to native landscapers in your region and university extension offices in your state. They have a wealth of knowledge and can help you get going. There are shade loving and shade tolerant native plants. Just because 99% of people do it, doesn't mean it works best.