Are we seeing a Generation of Pilots that only "think" they know what they are about? I note more than a few will quote the "Queen's Regulations" (or whatever Authority is in vogue at the time) but seem not to have a full understanding of not only "what" the Rule has to say....but do not fully understand "why" the Rule exists and that it is very near impossible to write a Rule that covers every possible situation.
The Black and White situations are easy to apply the various Rules to...but it is the Gray colored situations that demand the ability to know when the Rule should be considered sound advice but not be considered as having been etched in Stone.
They are all written on Paper at some place....and are subject to Amendment over time.
Bureaucracy only adds to the Rule Book....and never reduces the amount of burden it adds to the situation.