Well from a freedom perspective, it is very much the hardfork that ensures that freedom. Google Hardfork: the tale of the full node referendum to read more about this perspective.

Steem's DPOS gives it very different rules when it comes to resolving consensus.

Hardforks are always possible with consensus. Even on steem. Users may not have freedom if the economic control of a network is malicious.

Hardforks preserve freedom of explicit choice at all times.