Some good points there I think.
I live on solar and I think that empowers me (sorry :)) because I'm not dependant on any outside people.
There is a down side of course, that being that I can't depend on any outside people. If something breaks it's me that has to fix it.
Same goes with my plumbing, roofing, hydraulics, air systems, truck tyres, LPG, you name it.
Overall I like it that way, but there are times when I'd rather just pick up the phone, like now, I have a leaking pressure pump 
Rob