I knew what you meant (or I think I remember to have understood... then). Customizing the user-stylesheet and impose its use on web-pages that usually come with their own was possible, if I am not erring, since Opera 3.x. But is that not yet another kind of sham? We are already discussing what is subject to individual predilections. And the reason is simply that the web “gives you the freedom to do it”, not a necessity. My thoughts may not be clear as I am lacking the vocabulary to express them, but the very first point of my own reasoning, when reflecting on the OP's question, is: What is the ideal, that I would be after?

The answer has evolved during those years of using the Web. In short, today, I prefer to be confronted with out-of-the-box usable content. Probably, because I have followed many of the serpentine roads that technology has chosen to pave before me. See my exploding CSS:
http://altlasten.lutz.donnerhacke.de...l/operman.html
http://altlasten.lutz.donnerhacke.de...l/userman.html

... because it was possible. And if someone tells you new things, you may be lured into thinking that they should serve something, else why bother? As I watch the neigbour's white cat stroll by, I am again considering giving up Internet and computers for good.

I would say all "good" things in moderation but who decides and what about the "bad?"

I like being able to search through texts though if the net trends like the software, time for a upgrade? Should always be able to get here: http://www.gnu.org/licenses/gpl-3.0.txt

This forum does remind me of 2002

As a certified "software Luddite", this is all good. I can actually navigate this site, whereas I find most of the modern sites baffling.