This is an excellent essay making a compelling case.

Some random thoughts from me:

1. I agree that it is absurd to demand one single set of stringent rules, regardless of whether one aspires to write literary or commercial fiction - including the fourth wall issue you discuss here.

2. I am hardly a publishing expert, but my writing advice to any aspiring writer would be to study many different forms of storytelling across a variety of novels, so you become aware of the many existing possibilities. I'd then advise that the story they want to tell should be told in the manner they think best fits it, regardless of rules and popular trends.

3. As an aside, I must confess I didn't much care for Cloud Atlas. Brilliantly written in a variety of different styles? Yes. But it all felt a bit Emperor-has-no-clothes in terms of thinking it is a lot more profound than it really is. That said, the old people's home bit is hugely entertaining.