I think that quote is a good example of why it is a fair characterization. It uses the authors’ seniority to argue from authority, even explicitly requesting respect.
To a beginner, it reads like ”these are subjective matters so experience is king, and we have more experience than you do”.
"Respecting my experience" does not translate to me as "do everything exactly accordingly to these strict rules". To me it says "consider my opinions before doing something different". Consider. Not follow blindly. I can see how one may interpret it as the first if they read the quote in isolation, but certainly not in the context of the
book. Which, as mentioned before, goes out of its way to state these rules are more like guidelines, and gives examples of where strict adherence causes worse code.
To a beginner, it reads like ”these are subjective matters so experience is king, and we have more experience than you do”.