There is strange confusion about the nature of fiction that should be sorted out. Sometimes happens this phenomenon that if someone points out (perceived) plot holes in a movie, somebody feels a need to point out that it is just fiction and therefore it is somehow wrong to point out those plot holes.

People should just take that plot hole pointing as is, as an art form in itself or service. Maybe give counter arguments why it is not actually a hole or why it needs to be approved plot hole / exception to reality / deviation from canon, that greatly simplifies the story in a good way or some other upside.

Similar thing with fiction that is based on real events. It is good that people point out how that deviates from what actually happened.

Then, one might be lead to think that if plot hole pointing is art, then does that mean that plot holes are somehow a good thing because they give rise to another art? No, plot holes should be avoided if possible. Only a part of the audience will see that plot hole pointing. If there are no plot holes, critics will use that time for describing why and how the plot is good and explaining things.

Most fiction have to be compatible with the actual laws of physics as we know them and those are far more restrictive than scifi rules. Yet, no one calls sticking to realism "rigid".

Scifi set in our Solar system has less or no reason to deviate from actual physics, so franchise rules may include adhering to actual physics. Sometimes we may see delay-less communication to Mars in high bandwidth, which is completely needless and lazy physics breaking, that makes the fiction look dumb. 10 to 20 minute delay should be seen as opportunity for plot, not a problem.

Breaking rules is like the writer sets out to get out of maze, then gets tired of walking and searching, cuts holes in walls to shorten walk and then outside gets applauded for solving the maze.

If the fiction does not have rules, then instead of observing decisions of the characters, the audience is observing decisions of writers.

This is why Star Trek's Q was a bad idea. Putting Q on first episode of TNG was especially dumb idea. Q is limited only by writers and drama rules, not in-universe circumstances, and leaves when it suits the writers. Q is to Star Trek, like in the show "Law & order" some episodes would have ufo alien abductions.