"most of our actions are conditioned." I love that frequent objection. It is self-defeating because the "I" ("our") is assumed, which is correct because it is always our actions and thoughts. Like you go on to say, we easily can fall into mental shortcuts but with discipline we can overcome that habit. We have free will, and reflecting on our thoughts reveal how whether we take shortcuts or consciously make choices, our thoughts and actions contribute to the dynamic entity that we are. We are only as "shackled" as we allow ourselves to be, and we can climb out of it, as I am very happy to hear that you did!

Please see my article: https://medium.com/p/follow-up-to-buddhism-is-wrong-48bde358a503