You have a particular view. For me what's important is my experience. Theories are not really anything unless I can use it for that. But we can discuss it.

Regarding the difficulties, yeah that's why proper training is required, which social suppression hampers. Now with new age everything, psi's basically mainstream. Future is bright. In terms of evolution, I think it bifurcates, but that just pushes for the selection of people who can handle it. Ultimately we win. There's sufficient material for people to find their own way rn, tho still not easy.

Regarding the sociological history you propose: interesting theory, consider the black cross placed on the 3rd-eye on Ash Wednesday - ritual suppression? But I don't think any political force has shaped globally this aspect of humanity. I think what people have gone through with this is more the natural consequence of that ability engaging with the world during a time of ignorance. Evolution can involve struggle, aspects of this might include just another struggle, one of humanity's many. Which doesn't mean it all has to be struggle, and everyone's experience is different. But it's understandable that people might face struggle sometimes. I don't think it has to be that way. I think a lot of it is ignorance, and a lack of a proper framework. In a sense I think religions may be more attempts to provide frameworks for these things than suppressions of them. Tho it probably cuts both ways.

Regarding mimetic control of psi in the population: I highly doubt a few fictional portrayals was testing turning this on and off for people. There's been narrative (non-fiction or not) portrayals of these abilities across cultures...for ever?

Don't be misled by seeing ghosts in shadows - ie, by misinterpreting the unseen parts of some covert programs to convince yourself such whatever have more power than they do, i.e. don't fill in the blanks with your fears. Just like in Dune: fear is the mind killer man. Fear is your reality killer. So true. In a sense, Jesus provides a fairly good approach - the highest commandment - love. To create a heaven on Earth around you. Or stay in fear and create your own hell. More so if you're activated, because you're gonna warp reality more. Gotta stay high vibe, very important!

I do think that "Life on Earth" in general pushes this kind of ability to wake up. It's human nature - whether by suppression or support, any kind of engagement with someone's psi ability is going to push this to wake up in people. Pressing down, will push back. It just create another reaction. Keep in mind, it's not "not there" (you said it's either there or not), it's a bell curve, it's not binary. Some people are not aware of many things, psi included. With training in subtle awareness they'd become aware of many things, and psi would be included in that. It's like learning to play a sport: there's talent and there's training. But most people can grasp it given the opportunity.

If you want to attribute manipulation in the psi realm, consider people are embedded in a larger reality which largely is unseen - manipulations mostly come from these unseen realms, not from any human scheming. How to handle? Take care of yourself, realize there's nothing to fear and stay aligned with what's good. It's okay if this is not something you see, but hopefully this helps.