The only slight flaw in your argument is that there is no clear direction of travel towards more control. People like you say there is but what actual freedoms have been taken from you in your lifetime?
Some of the things imposed because of this crisis were eased when the worst of it was over. The full lockdown where you could only go out once a day for an hour is no longer the case. Lots of businesses which were ordered to shut are now reopened. Yes there has been a pause in the lifting of restrictions and other things like masks have been imposed but that's because cases started to go up again. But I don't believe the government are planning a dystopian future where some of the restrictions in place will persist
TL;DR - what's going on this year is all clearly a response to the situation this year, not part of a direction of travel. Just like rationing and the blackout was a response in the War. They didn't use it as an excuse to keep restricting people when the situation passed. Because why would they? They're not trying to "control" you or oppress you. I don't think "they" really care about you either way.