No, it isn't. Spa membership doesn't dictate what you cannot do outside the spa. Spas do not collude other competing spas to exclude you from interacting with them.
That's where you get it wrong. The EU is an association. Every single member agreed to centralised policy stuff because that fits their needs and suits their best interests. One member decided to leave and thus forfeited the privileges available to their members. It's that simple.
First, you haven't responded to my points which addressed, specifically, your spa analogy.
Second, some privileges are real, and some manufactured to punish outsiders. Prioritization and restrictions on trading with non-EU is an example of this, which addresses the "hypocrisy of protectionism" point.
Finally, "because that fits their needs and suits their best interests" who's interest? Brexit voters? They got one vote premised on an EU promising the moon, and little control or feedback sibce then until the recent Brexit vote.
No, it isn't. Spa membership doesn't dictate what you cannot do outside the spa. Spas do not collude other competing spas to exclude you from interacting with them.