For some artists, if you have the freedom to make every creative choice — you won't make any choice at all. So you set limits on yourself as a challenge, and as a corrective to make sure your initial vision remains unobstructed. The success of The White Stripes is a prime example. Then other times, a force completely outside your control shuts off options and limits your choices for you, requiring you to operate within those new boundaries. The success of The White Stripes is a prime example.