I totally agree it is fine to prefer either solution. However I disagree with your proposition about "market" vs "bureaucrats". I think (imho) business logic and free market are not efficient enough to guarantee quality of life.
The issue is their economic power might erase a bit of the charm of Paris and lower my quality of life.
That's why the political power counterbalances this.
Humans are not very good for long term thinking. Often, people needs immediate consequences of their action to judge them.