It's very weird for me to see people acting like Apple is "becoming" anything. They've been pretty consistent about their spot on the user freedom/paternalism spectrum, for at least a decade. This is in line with the choices they've been making since at least the launch of the iPod. Ease of use has never been exclusive of user freedom, and Apple's desire to control users has never been about the user: any half-decent interface is capable of hiding power behind an easy to use facade.