I work as a Programming tutor and course developer, in Dot Net using VS 2013 /15'
Owing to college policies I have lost local admin rights to my work machine resulting in many calls to help desk to for install simple actions such as updating Visual Studio (even the extensions!) configuring and updating SQL Server Management Studio, new software, etc.
As a professional programmer, does your employer have such draconian regulations? I have seriously thought of walking away from a job I love over it, its too restrictive for no reason.
I need to make a case that this is an unacceptable working condition.
To be honest, if your employer is providing the hardware, it's theirs not yours and they have the ultimate say on what's on it and what's not. Anyone working for a company using their hardware or their network will always be doing so under an acceptable use policy. Even if the company supports a Bring-Your-Own-Device policy, there will be some form of stipulation that you have certain levels of security on the device.
I think what your argument, though, is about the impact to your productivity. It's less around the unacceptability of the working condition, and more about the waste that comes into play for you to achieve the tasks you are given. If you work as part of an R&D organization, the "Research" part of the job description usually entails installing new packages in order to determine their suitability for the product being developed. If you need to lose an hour / a day / a week waiting for these packages to be installed, there is a bottom line to the company that these policies are causing. But, you have to be able to show it. Otherwise it just falls into a he-said/she-said finger-pointing exercise.