Short answer: it's not just about following rules.
Long answer: it's about making choices that don't suck.
Imagine you're in a room with a bunch of other humans, and everyone's trying to decide on the most efficient way to get to the fridge. One person suggests taking a shortcut through the kitchen, another person says it's better to go around through the living room.
Do you:
take the shortcut, but pretend you're doing it for a noble reason
or
take the long way, but with a healthy dose of eye-rolling
(Note: these links lead to more in-depth discussions)