Have only flown Qatar and ANA and neither controlled blinds to the degree experienced by Level Bust. I do agree the windows are large and as they say some what reminiscent of the old Viscount which I first experienced with Channel Airways (that dates me !). As Paxboy says he would not use a carrier that started doing this as a standard, and I would be another who would boycott the carrier on that basis. I have yet to experience "central control" from crew but have had the occasional polite request which I have tried to comply with. However most of my flying is long haul in Business, and generally I have not had an issue if I explain why I like to look out of the window when watching a sun rise over the Indian Ocean while listening to Pink Floyd for instance.
Cheers
Mr Mac