I guess that's kind of what it comes down to, huh?
Their very name, Guardians, frames them as an authority figure. And so many writers are still in that adolescent mindset of lashing out at authority. The ones with power who want you to live by rules cannot be anything but overbearing and corrupt, out to ruin your good time for no other reason than that they can and that they Know Better.
The Guardians in Kyle's era became kind of... people. Ganthet started out just like all the others, arrogant and condescending. His words of encouragement to Kyle upon handing him the ring were "You will do." But by his association with Kyle, he became more. He became someone who could cry with joy and honestly told Kyle he always believed he was special and would do great things... if for no other reason than how happy Kyle had made him. Hell, the li'l Guardians were actually CUTE.
I mean, wasn't this a precedent intended to be set back when Ollie and Hal did their little hippie trip across America? Wasn't that actually Ganthet they took with them on the trip, because the Guardians had decided they actually needed to understand something about the everyday people down there on the planets that they'd appointed their Green Lanterns to protect?
Whatever happened to the Guardians that gave a shit? Why do we have to be fobbed off with this lame rebellion against authority by a thirty-six-year-old and whined at yet again with "power corrupts"?