Which cruisers broke the fundamental design rules?

Which cruisers broke the fundamental rules of cruiser design?

There are no universal fundamental rules: the cruiser role is too varied, so a design must be judged against the needs it was built to meet.

The premise that every cruiser can be measured against a fixed universal rule set is rejected. Cruisers occupy a wide spectrum because navies ask them to patrol, fight, scout, protect trade, show the flag, and support diplomacy in different combinations. A feature that looks like a flaw for one mission may be a sensible compromise for another. The proper test is whether the design fits its navy's geography, budget, force structure, and required role.