This is what I have come up with:
Are they really neutral? What if you like your stripey top a little more than your plain one? Wouldn't it be better to wear the plain one as a way of giving up your will?
Or about the potatoes? Say you like both equally but your spouse prefers mashed? So you serve mashed as a way to serve and please him.
Yes, I can see that extraneous factors may make a difference in those examples, ie that going against one's own inclination in these things could help in forming a habit of altruism, and therefore help one towards salvation.
But in themselves, they are neutral, I would say.
And if you choose the top you like less today, then you're going to have to choose the one you like most tomorrow!
I am also reminded of a story. I think it's quite well known.
There are two friends, whom I'll call Peter and Paul, and Peter cuts a cake into two portions, one of which is a bit bigger than the other. He asks Paul to choose one of the pieces.
Paul chooses the bigger piece!
Peter complains, "How selfish, choosing the bigger portion!"
So Paul replies, "Well, which piece would you have chosen?"
"The smaller one, of course," says Peter.
Paul replies, "I thought you would, which is why I left it for you!"