Teaching threads on a operating systems course, i have witnessed some of the more convoluted code ever by students so afraid on global variables that they turned simple exercises into monstrosities. So yes, f*ck the rigid rules. They have to unlearn best practices guidelines, to which they were "blood-written sacred rules".
Well, in class environment, they've probably figured out that it's not a sane or correct answer that gets the points. It's the answer that follows all the rules that have been set in the material for that class. It's extremely typical for teachers to grade based on the "best practices" and "sacred rules" that the classes teach. Showing ideas, outside knowledge or solutions that are simpler than the course material just gets a student punished.
