Lich’oira, influence moves a person’s nekudas habechirah. Thus, the effect of a certain influence might be that a person will not consider a particular choice, though he is still a free agent. Anyone?
I would say it differently; it can make the same choice easier, but it’s still within the realm of bechirah chofshis.
I think where R’ Dessler’s nekudas habechirah is not universally accepted is in his denial of bechirah in certain cases, but I don’t think anyone disagrees that some choices are more difficult than others, and that the level of difficulty changes.