I think if we are honest, we must admit "top-down" meddling is only bad when it's "our side" that's being messed with centrally. Thus, the validity of your noting Cardinal Burke's hypocrisy in selective approaches to investigations.  

But progressives also have to admit inconsistencies in supporting/decrying over-zealotry in hierarchy involvement with issues better handled "locally"--whether that be in a marriage or the Knights of Malta or Nuns on the Bus or a Catholic university.

We must be very careful not to set standards for others we don't accept for ourselves. Because those reasons for doing so will one day come back to bite us when we complain about Church intrusiveness and lack of trust.