Hey, each and every RPGer I know have always been somehow hard-nosed in their own ways. Now GMing should be finding a middle way between everyone’s perspective, not imposing yours. Of course, if someone has to eventually decide on some specific issue, it has to be the GM, but this should be a last resort option (pity it happens that often, but when your party is ok, it works smoothly 🙂 ).
Btw, a good GMs makes a good referee… and the other way round. We are talking about live people there. ^_^ Gamemastering is definitely much more akin to an art.