Q: even if we don't, does that actually matter, so long as we feel as if we do?
A: i personally don't think we would even perceive the conscious experience if we did not have access to a certain extra dimensional layer of wiggle room (i.e. the opportunity to select or even change the immediate future). i believe if it were 100% deterministic and pre-determined, i don't think we would ever be aware of our existence at all, and time would already be done