Unfortunately, rules are rules. By being defensive you will only open up a can of worms in front of the powers that be. If others have been doing it with no trouble, it's because they haven't said anything, the old saying "It is easier to ask forgiveness than permission" hold true in this case.
I for one completely and totally disagree with the negative opinion of rack steering, but there's nothing I can do about it. Rules are rules. And making a big stink will only draw attention, with tech crawling all over looking for that 1/16" out-of-whichever specification.