The other Randland countries aren't exactly beacons of freedom, they are feudal societies, in some of which the nobles abuse the commoners much more than in the Seanchan lands and where the social mobility is non-existent. None of the Randland societies cares much about individual freedom either. Even the Aiel, who have no kings or nobility, always put the clan first and don't hesitate to force people like Aviendha into doing what's most useful for the clan instead of what she wants.

And of course, this saying you quoted sound nice, but it's hardly universal. For example, in Tarabon the situation was a complete anarchy, famine and civil strife before the Seanchan came, so can you really blame most Taraboners if they prefer the Seanchan rule to their own incompetent and totally corrupt nobles? I don't think this makes them cowards.

I am not a fan of the Seanchan, but their demonising doesn't make much sense IMO. They have their flaws, but they aren't the bastion of evil so many WoT readers are making them out to be.