>If so, would one not be more than a pre-programmed robot following a pre-determined path?

its still 'you' making those choices, whether or not 'you' could choose differently is irrelevant.

even if no one could have possibly chosen differently they still chose.

to me it seems like determinists believe in souls by necessity ('you' are your genes and neurons so even if 'you' cant actively control them they are still 'you')