Steam is mostly a control system.
The solution for all that don't like it is quite simple:
Don't buy Steam games.
The only language publishers understand is money. Deny them their money and they will be forced to change.
Of course, that only works if enough people do it, which seems unlikely, as Steam is still one of the DRM schemes that is met with a certain level of benevolence.
I don't like it much but I'm (still) willing to accept it as a necessary evil.
Btw., I want to make clear that I don't think pirating your games instead would be the right solution.
In fact piracy only helps to worsen the situation as it gives the (obviously right) impression that the game is in demand and will usually lead to even more restrictions for buyers.