I'm afraid that I believe some (by no means all) crews take their own action over windows. Some years ago, seated next to a window a crew member reached past me with a tray to extend their reach and, without a word, pushed the blind next to me down. I was so surprised and irritated that I immediately snapped it back up which I think caught the crew member off guard because they just walked off.
As fot the 787 my few flight so far haven't given me any problems with the windows. Yes, the crew has control but I've found that when they "turn the blinds down" I can still open them up again and I don't need to open them all the way.
Some years ago I was asked what my least favourite aircraft was. When I replied the 777 the questioner was aghast but I agree with those who say it's noisy inside. I'm very sorry to see the 747 going away (yes, I know there are a few still around). I've been flying long haul since the late 60s and a large proportion of those flights have been on a 747 and about my only complaint was that the further back you were seated the more movement there was even in still air.