So, the phrase "work to rule" should carry a positive connotation rather than a negative one?
Certainly in terms of aviation procedures. The vast majority of which are in place as a result of hard won lessons from bitter experience.
At the very least it should be a case of "understand the rules you're bending". I'm the first to admit that at times I bend certain rules because I understand why those specific rules were written - when the rule is an overreaction (overly broad). Other rules I will
not bend because I understand why they were written too.