“…my battle lines are between individuals and institutions rather than the more “libertarian” framing of its struggle as the battle between the private and public sectors.”

Is it that complicated? MY battle line is between people or institutions acting in good faith (bona fides) and those acting in bad faith (mala fides). Bad faith comes in many guises but usually involves unjustified (unjust, disproportionate) dishonesty or force. IMO its all about behavior and not about forms, structures, sectors, etc. It isn’t even about ideologies. Its about case-by-case behavior.

As you said, “My own hedge against bullshit [mala fides] relies less on rigid definitions and more on the assumption that de facto matters matter, while de jure ones (mere formalities) do not.”