[23B1]

The problem is that management is probabilistic and not deterministic. If everyone got their way all the time, you'd have too much discord, as too many variables (opinions, styles, etc.) have been introduced. If you're voicing disagreement publicly, you embolden others without management experience or authority to in turn 'do their own thing' as well, multiplying the number of variables you have to deal with. Successful companies balance the input of experts, the happiness of workers, and the fact that their job is to follow the right strategies, as a whole, to achieve the primary mission (usually making money and growing).

Does it feel unfair to a lot of lower-level employees? Yep. Good managers are able to create 'autonomy of action/unity of effort' by providing and trusting the lower echelons with enough autonomy to stay happy and creative solving problems for the company WITHOUT going off the rails.

OP, you can be a leader inside your company by doing right by your team, being transparent with them, but also voicing any disagreement with upper management discretely. You're looked to as a leader and that means it's up to you to strike the aforementioned balance.