My favourite question is definitely about where we are are on the determinism/free will spectrum. My working answer is that repetition and lack of self-awareness reduces the plasticity of our minds, resulting in an increase of determinism. That is, we lock ourselves into certain behaviours, reducing our own free will. This is why meditation, reflection, philosophy, literature, and certain social sciences can lead to increased plasticity through self-awareness and presence.
And I think though we are loath to admit it, we are pushed around by subrational processes and drives more often that we realize.
Certainly. To understand those processes - or, at least, the way they can affect us - is therefore one of the most important things a person can do for their happier existence. The presence of the background processes in our mind does not invalidate making a choice, either. Our mind is a powerful tool, and it's important to make use of it since we're already having a choice.