[hueving]

>Typically strict rules are given punitive reasons as motivation for following, not some intrinsic rationale within the rule -- and that's precisely the difference.

No, that's the strawman. Rules without explanations. It has nothing to do with punitive enforcement.

>"Wash the dishes or you'll be sent to your room" doesn't teach why you should wash the dishes, only that you'll be punished for not doing so.

Strawman again. The unexplained reasoning is the problem, not the punitive action.

>The punitive approach requires no brainpower to follow, there's no specific reason why the effect (punishment) follows from cause (not washing the dishes)

Ugh, I hope I made the point clear above, but I'll state it one last time: punitive punishments are not the same as unexplained rules.

The rest of your comment is based on this strawman assumption that all parenting using punitive actions follows this stupid method of not explaining rules. It's just as dumb as assuming the opposite (i.e. parents that don't punish children don't teach their children any morals).