I think the problem here isn't as much about people not sticking to a certain style, but that when people do use techniques that we see on real world coasters it isn't usually recognized, especially when it comes to some of these contests. Real coasters are almost never as smooth as most NL builders like to think. Look at almost any coaster out there and you will find pumps, jerks, strange transitions, and all kinds of other things that we tend to rate people's NL rides down for.
I guess the problem is that with NL we can make coasters completely smooth and free of strange transitions. When someone intentionally makes an odd transition, usually trying to mimic one found on a real coaster, you guys see it as a mistake, something that isn't right and doesn't flow well. Usually transitions like this are used to create a certain effect, like the pumps on SROS-Bizarro's hills that kick you up out of your seat in a quick, jerky motion rather than a smooth one. In NL you can't feel this though, so it just looks like the designer messed something up.
I'm not saying all odd shaping should be recognized as being good and realistic, but when someone has recreated something or used techniques that can be seen in the real world, points shouldn't be taken off for tech or anything else.