I know I've asked three or four users on here but instead of bugging them with followup questions, I'll just open the floor up here:

In later years, did Prince have people - specifically friends - around him who he respected enough to listen to when/if they said "no"?

I read articles about Prince and "VIP Syndrome," his inability to accept "no," his - in Prince's own words - tendency to operate as a "loving tyrant" and wonder.
I also looked at the social media comments of those who worked with him in relation to this subject and when a few people suggested that people like Wendy, Lisa, Andre, and the Leeds were probably about the last ones to really step up to him when they thought he needed a reality check, a few others agreed.

It's clear that the weeks before he died prince was open to getting the help he needed..the meeting with the rehab doctor being one example unfortunately he didn't live long enough to follow through. Before then it would probably have been very difficult to get through to him no matter who you were as it seems he wasn't ready or willing. Just my opinion..none of us really knows.