I don't really recognise that description of the Culture - they have plenty of freedom (including the freedom to leave the Culture as individuals or groups) and

I don't really recognise that description of the Culture - they have plenty of freedom (including the freedom to leave the Culture as individuals or groups) and to do practically anything they want (PoG has game players, large scale landscape designers). And there is plenty of desire and passion by the inhabitants of the Culture and they feel the need as individuals to be more "worthy" there is Contact or even Special Circumstances. What's not to like?