Originally Posted by Bonsai Barry

It's a bit like jazz. When I used to perform, the goal in improvising was to be "sort of predictable." If you were total predicatable then it was a boring performance. If you were totally unpredicatable it is frustrating to most of the audience. The jazz artist know how much variation to add in order to make the performance exciting.

Same may hold true in bonsai. Following every rule will reward you with a cookie cutter tree. Ignoring all harmony, conventions and traditions creates chaos. It is the blend between harmony and dissonance that makes for a unique and beautiful tree.