Maybe it was for the best for you that you went into other things than photography in the end ;)
I don't agree with this post though as much - exceptions sometimes set new rules, as you say, but they might be for the best.
In Greece we have a saying: The exception confirms the rule.
Rules without exceptions are no rules - they're just a boring list which has no meaning. It's the exceptions that give the rules meaning. Same as limits sometimes are to be broken... ;)
Of course, as in my case, sometimes the exceptions may improve the initial rule but not always. :)