To me this looks like a restatement of the "good writers can break the rules" argument, Not disagreeing. Though I was inclined to think of it more along the lines of extenuating circumstances. "Your Honor, this man was doing 95 mph in a hospital zone". "Yes, but his wife was screaming in labor in the passenger seat. Case dismissed."

I did feel surprise that a mathematician would say the rules don't always have to be adhered to.