There is no individual freedom of choice when it comes to rewards. When it comes to votes, yes, and nothing in this post or anywhere changes the fact that anyone can vote how they like, and the blockchain always permits it. But if others don't feel the rewards are contributing to the value of Steem they can downvote, and the rewards will be paid out according to upvotes minus downvotes, making rewards a community, not individual, decision. (If you want to reward someone based on your own individual decision, transfer your own Steem to them.)

No one is guaranteed any payout ever