I had an older person explain it to me rather well. When they were young freedom was when you got a car and could go over to friends anytime or go on a trip. You no longer need a car to hang out with friends to even watch a movie now a days. People also don’t need car to see what a place looks like they can just pull up endless videos of YouTube.
I find it rather alarming just how little contact you get with people these days. Everything is just automated. While I’ve never been one to want to interact face to face with others. I find it even more disturbing not having that option. It was those little engagements that I needed more then I ever expected.
You touched on something there: I find it disturbing that the options are slowly going away. Perhaps I'd feel better about it if choice was a little more available. By the MegaCorps have more and more power and influence to say "do it THIS way, or find yourself ostracized from all services."
That's the scary part.