As much as I try, friend, I cannot seem to feel this "freedom being lost", because I cannot make my ipad play WebM. I cannot make it play blu-ray disks either, which also seems to affect my feeling of "freedom" in no way whatsoever.
And I gave up administering "real computers" ages ago in favor of a higher salary and a much more interesting job. What a high holy pain in the ass THAT was.
And lastly, I don't actually flaunt my ipad, because I live in the middle of New York City and I don't want it stolen. I keep it to myself, except at work and at the coffeeshop near my apartment, where I have been known to break it out occasionally and play with Wolfram Alpha. And figure this out: I still adore it, despite not flaunting it everywhere I go. Because I didn't get it to make people feel bad, friend. I got it because I really, really like them.
I'm sorry if my motivation doesn't fit the character of the cut of the jib you seem to be laying on me, but maybe this is a good opportunity for you to "think different".
Bahah. I see what I did there.