Well it's a protocol so I guess since it's a protocol yes. Since a company doesn't own it wouldn't it be no?

Email=protocol

nostr=protocol

Hotmail, Google, yahoo, proton = company/client using the protocol

Primal, damus, nostrudel, amethyst=clients using protocol

Where is the illusion of choice? You can use Nostr or not but there's really no few companies owning the protocol

Could you clarify what I'm missing