Except you’re NOT free to choose, every major distro shoves it into your face

You can't have been using Linux long if you think this is what not being free to choose means.

Don't use a "major distro", use one made by likeminded folks. Example: https://www.devuan.org/

Why do major distros have to make only the decisions you want them to make? Bugs the shit out of me that Gnome is the default desktop damn near everywhere, but so what? Are you paying their bills or otherwise contributing to some degree that they should change their decisions to suit you?

Here's a list from 2021: https://www.howtogeek.com/713847/the-best-linux-distributions-without-systemd/

Another from2022: https://itsfoss.com/systemd-free-distros/

Or build LFS without systemd.

Or build Arch yourself without systemd.

The freedom of Linux and FLOSS is that you can roll up your sleeves and do it differently if you want to. Not that anyone owes it to you to do it for you. For that you have to hope other folks who have rolled up their sleeves have the same opinions you do - and in this case, some do!

I have no concern about your opinion on systemd. But you seem really confused about what freedom is.