How are they "Guidelines" if they are enforced as rules?
Are there notable exceptions that do pass the review process (and not by luck, but by being approved)?
In fact, having now skimmed through their guideline documents, it seems that you could just replace the word "guideline" with "requirement" and leave no app developer, or their managers, in any doubt whatsoever.
I think they're guidelines because some (especially the UI one) aren't always enforced or are too vague. You don't have to follow the HIG exactly. People come up with new UI's that don't conform to the HIG but get through because they're good.
Are there notable exceptions that do pass the review process (and not by luck, but by being approved)?
In fact, having now skimmed through their guideline documents, it seems that you could just replace the word "guideline" with "requirement" and leave no app developer, or their managers, in any doubt whatsoever.