Really interesting thread here.

I have always compared this as like learning to drive.
(you learn to operate the car and learn to read the road)

Same comparison to photography you learn the basics and techniques and the rules of photography and composition and then adapt them for the current situation to make the shot work.

Yes sure, there are rules of composition but once learned, it's then i feel becomes the art in seeing the image, which i don't think the composition will always match or comply with any rule in photography.

Just my thought on it.
Craig