I feel like some aspect of agency is lost here. When do you know you've made it? Our conscious thought is what gives us the sense of free will, but neuroscientists have proven with a few studies that our brain decides before we do. What is free about that?

As any other animal, we came from survivalist routes. I believe our "consciousness" and social abilities have allowed us to reach how far we've come as a species. But I think we can be studied in predictable ways like any other living thing that exists.

Yes exactly! It's really hard to explain to people who aren't as fluent in philosophy. They are very defensive over their "ability to choose" and can't separate the idea of true "free will" from what they really have. Most who disagree see it as a negative when I find it very neutral.

I wrote a paper about this myself back in college, after reading Notes from the Underground and getting inspired. I didn't personally support determinism, rather thinking of things happening in the moment as they occur, almost like there was no future / past, just the reactions that are happening in the moment. Another aspect came to play was optimistic nihilism, and taking into account that even if true "free will" does not exist, the concept of it being true is enough to give life meaning. It doesn't have to be real to enjoy life, create meaning, experience things.