What about intelligently controlled manipulation?
You seem to underestimate the power of our freedom to consciously manipulate as opposed to pre defined reaction.
Go read the posts Alan, these things have been covered to death. There is nothing magic about intelligence, it is entirely consistent with determinism, as also are consciousness, will, subjectivity, desire and the rest. I can consciously manipulate things out of a desire or a need to do so but I cannot consciously manipulate those principal needs and desires. If I choose to do A rather than B that reflects my preference at the moment of choosing. What I cannot do, is somehow artificially engineer myself such that I would prefer B to A if in fact I prefer A. I cannot do that not because it is difficult, not because of some external factors inhibiting my freedom,I cannot do that because it is
nonsensical to claim that I could. If I wanted to want B rather than A that means that in fact I wanted A in the first place.
Your understanding on this is profoundly mixed up, and yes, being profoundly mixed up is entirely consistent with determinism, as also is engagement with ideas and a desire to understand.