For the sake of argument and excitement for the format!:
An opinion I have is that once you have a clear Objective (such as “Strategize for Winning by Actively utilizing Gadgets”), the best way to go about implementing rules that meet your Objective is to avoid Subtraction and maximize Strategic Multiplication.
For example, “must include X objects” is a Subtractive rule, as is “certain objects are -X” or “certain objects cannot participate.”
Strategic Multiplicative rules are much harder to create, but if done correctly, have an opportunity to be elegant in both their simplicity and impact on how people play the game. A good Strategic Multiplication rule changes how people employ Tactics to meet Objectives by not offering hard limits or inflexible exclusions, but instead by introducing obstacles that can be worked around, or advantages that may be exploited, all within a shifting set of conditions.
Anyhow, I feel the point has been made. I will personally play by any set of rules, but by the same token, can easily nerd out about format structure on an internet forum where we talk about card games…
As for the difference between “casual” and “non-casual,” I mark the difference depending on how the answer to the following question falls out: “Do I have to build a new deck to participate competitively?”
Cheers!