I think the problem is that the definition of "best practices" is a little muddy.
for example:
- use source control
- don't put spaces in file names
- camelcase is better than underscores in variables
- vi not emacs
some are really best practices, some are controversial choices someone is pushing.
Some places I've worked with good policies deliberately left some open. And made choices earlier on troublesome ones like spaces not tabs.
I think the choosing or defining vs not choosing is what companies should do to define themselves.