These essays are valuable because they are the first step toward understanding that a strong reformed Scriptural faith does not involve "puppets." Instead it defines clearly the nature of man as being irrevocably fallen and unredeemable unless and until God chooses to change the heart of stone.
Most people who make this first step eventually realize that if God ordains the day of our birth, He surely must ordain the day of our death -- and everything in between.
You are right, the 'Free will' system relies on some 'good' in man to choose God. This ignores the Lord Jesus words on our goodness:
Matt 7:11a "If you then, being evil..."
Mankind according to Christ, is evil. We sink down to the lowest common denominator of sin readily. Only the 'goodness' of God, working through us (usually in spite of us) does anything truly Good as to get us a reward in heaven. The 'Free will' argument does not take into account the Lord Jesus's words, "men loved the darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil" John 3:19 NASB. For if Christ did not come into the world, no one would have salvation.