Trying to compare Steem's degree of freedom to freedom "in real life" is a futile exercise because it's akin to searching for freedom in a baseball game.

Just like baseball, Steem is a game with rules that shapes its players behavior. These rules were mostly set from the start of it and modified along the way in hopes of achieving optimal network growth, security, stability, and distribution. I agree that the results aren't near perfect, and it is in-part a reflection of its rules. From the glass-half-full POV, it's pretty amazing that it's functioning at its current level.