You had made an earlier point about judgment and rules. I remember an infamous line in our "rules" in the OPNAVINST 3710 series: nothing in this manual precludes the exercise of good judgment. (Words to that effect).
Which has been the Point I have always tried to make when discussing "Rules"s, "Regulations", and "Laws".
They all have varying effect, force, and pertinence but are never absolute.
Even The Laws of Gravity can be defied but they too demand a reckoning if you get it wrong.