Been a pretty keen watcher of Rock music for approaching 60 years, and one anecdotal point about Springsteen sticks out among others, I'd like to share.
There was a Rolling Stone article somewhere in the late '70's to early '80's where the so called "Boss" was blatantly lying about Reagan, and was smearing him with obvious lies and malice. He's been a closet communist for probably his entire life.
F him and his dead career.
The flag incident? Didn't look at or care. Born to Run was the only one I bought.