Is it trust or fear that is the real problem in that case?

It seems like it is a mix. From people I've spoken to in China and the impression I get from what I've read about the Chinese censorship, the majority of people are generally ok with letting the government control things and think that that's really for the best. This seems to be changing slightly with the younger generation but it is hard to tell.

What would you do as an average Chinese citizen who wanted to change the policy? (Then, the same question assuming you were an actual Chinese citizen who didn't have your philosophical mind, intelligence, idealism and resourcefulness.)

Good points certainly. I'm not sure any average Chinese citizen alone can do anything. If I were an actual Chinese citizen alone given my "philosophical mind, intelligence, idealism and resourcefulness," I'm not sure I'd do anything either, not because I can't, but because the risk would be high. It is easy to say "oh, people in X situation should do Y because that's morally better or better for everyone overall" when one isn't in that situation. When one's life, family, or livelihood is the one being threatened then it is obviously going to be a lot more difficult. It isn't that I'm a coward (although I might be) it is just that standing up to the government in that sort of situation takes a lot of courage that I'm pretty sure I (and most people) don't have. But if the general population took an attitude that was more willing to do minor things (spread things like TOR or other methods of getting around the Great Firewall for example), then things might be different. But even that might not have a large impact.

So yeah, I may need to take this off the list.