It's something that I have come across more and more.
And its something that is used in court if/when there is an accident. "He is the pilot in command, this is our ops manual, he knows the limits and broke them."
The company keeps its AoC and the pilot loses his license and career.
A lot of guys in their late teens/early twenties do not have the experience in either life or flying to say no, with the odd exception.
I think it is something that needs to be taught in flight school. Being made to realize that its your ass in a sling if/when it goes pear shaped, not the operators.
Yes I know it is in the air law book, but it is just another thing that gets glossed over with no real time spent on it.