Well, I agree with most of your statement, however, in your scenario you only have a choice in what experience you want if you have the money to buy the unsubsidized phone- anyone else has the choice to buy the subsidized bloatware phone or do without (which is more choice than they would have if the subsidized phone did not exist...)
There's another option, root and load a custom Rom. Not only will the phone run leaner (and in theory faster) but it won't have the bloat. The only investment is your time. =]
