At the very beginning it likely conformed to all the rules as there likely wasn't much functionality in v1.0. By the time it attracted the attention of Apple decision makers, it was too sticky to ban as another user pointed out.

i.e. Wechat users would rather switch to Android than lose the app.

I guess the lesson is that exceptions will be made if you can grow an app literally a million fold in a few years and become a vital part of your user's day-to-day lives.

I agree: this double standard is conscious and intentional, rather than simply an artifact of probability & randomness

Was there something you wanted to say in response to comment?

Reposting the exact same thought again seems a bit odd.

it seemed in your initial response to the topic of the probabilistic, random exception excuse, that you agreed with me that such an excuse wasn't credible, and that the exception was, and continues to be, made consciously and intentionally

I was just agreeing with your agreement (: