Ask HN: Do you get to choose your own tools?

In a recent fireside chat with Cloudant PG says developers have more power than ever to choose the technologies used for projects, and it got me thinking about the fact that in the past some companies I worked for allowed me to make key technology decisions (db type, architecture, sometimes even SaaS). I always thought that was abnormal and bigger companies (read: non-startups), didn't allow developers to choose technologies.

But is my experience actually normal? Have you been allowed to choose technologies for projects without being a PM or Software Architect? What size companies did you work for that did/didn't allow you to choose the technology?