....but all the same, there are ways and means by which a given sport can preserve the spirit of the sport, and ideals in terms of key design features, without ruling with an iron fist on every single detail or minutia.
Just for discussions sake, are there really "ways and means"? Can you be more specific? IMHO it would be very difficult to acheive without having some precise "standards" laid down. Otherwise, it's all up for judgement calls on a case to case basis depending on which way the wind blows at the time. Look at the fuss at the end of the TdF when Greg Lemond used those Scott aero bars for example.
On subject though, I would propose +4 / -2 degree tilt (measured at the rear) just to move the line and have a drawn out debate with a UCI official. I would also show by bottom boils to the UCI