@wetb4igetinthewater , I think the argument above stems from a simple confusion about the word "standards".
In the PADI system, the word has a very specific meaning. This is the definition from the Instructor Manual:
Text appearing in boldface print denotes required standards that may not be deviated from while teaching the course.
In the Quality Management section of the Instructor Manual, the term "PADI Standards violations" is used. As I understand it, this refers to the "required standards that may not be deviated from" mentioned above.
The PADI Guide to Teaching does not contain required standards. But that does not make it useless. It contains a lot of useful guidance about how to teach your students well.
During my instructor course, my course director warned us about believing that there was only one way to teach something. He said that just because our instructors once taught us to do something in one way, that does not mean that PADI requires us to always do it that way. The only strict requirements from PADI are the standards (denoted by boldface in the instructor manual). PADI offers lots of other guidance and advice that is useful although it is not strict requirements. And we should adapt our teaching to the situation and the students while staying within the required training standards.
I think the structure of this system is basically sound. There should be parts of the system that cannot be deviated from and parts that are flexible so that the instructor can adapt to the situation.