Censorship on an increasing number of games
Only in obscure Japanese games so far.
They're at top of the league, it's Nintendo and Microsoft that are teaming up to keep the pace of Sony. With a cross play move, Sony would help the concorrente and competition. If your friends want to play online with you, they ought buy a ps4.
Again, with cross play Nintendo and MS have everything to gain, while Sony everything to lose.
Controlling indie developers
Everyone does that. Steam is the only exception and even then a little bit more of control, especially quality wise, wouldn't be bad.
Purposely locking the built in PS2 emulator in the console behind a pay wall.
The ps4 drive is projected just to read Blu rays and movie DVDs. Most of Ps2 games were on DVD and a significant amount on CD, so physical emulation was excluded from the get go.
Software emulation would have been possible, but not from launch and with no way of proving that you actually owned the game. So they are reselling it as a new game. Prices should be lower, though.
Controlling some Japanese retail release dates in the west.
The process of getting a Japanese game adapted for western audiences is long and complicated and way more than a simple translation. If we are getting Yakuza games in the west is mostly thanks to Sony. Judgement has been hindered by some "extraordinary" events, the western adaptation will be changed due to this fact, and again another hindrance. I would not be surprised if other Japanese games had to go through the same hellish process.
Removing digital codes from offline and online retailers.
That was due to taxes though, not Sony's direct fault. The selling of credit codes is a good loophole to digital taxes, which I found stupid and really anti-consumer.
Rejecting features from other companies which would be good for gamers.
Example?
Throwing Vita owners under the bus, most of them, 1.5 years after release
The only thing I fully agree with you.
Seriously, what?
Not helping release original games unless they take control of the IP in many cases.
Have you got any evidence of this?
Ignoring for 5 years of constant complaints from their loyal customers to improve thumbstick durability.
Personal experience here: never had a problem with thumbsticks. Some problems with the controller connection, yes, but never the sticks.
Dismissive PSN customer service.
I've read a lot of negative feedback, so I'll concede the benefit of the doubt, but personally I needed ps support just once and they helped me.
Personal, highly unpopular opinion: professionals should never listen to fanbase. As a diehard Spider-Man and mortal kombat fan, the ideas that fans have, generally, are awful both financially and quality wise.
Let them do their job: if they do it wrong, criticism is welcome. If they do things fine, do your best wishes and compliments. Either way, vote with your wallet.