During sex and foreplay, do punishments ever really work?

I’m not particularly bratty per-se, but I’m genuinely curious about the ‘follow x rule, if you don’t you get y punishment’ format. Or things like it, too. Isn’t it possible to circumvent punishments by sneaking, loopholing or just breaking the rule altogether?

I’m aware that it’s ultimately a roleplay situation, but I just wonder: if a sub got a specific kind of thrill from just breaking or weaseling out of rules, or better put only really following them if the dom was serious and a 99ish% follow through kind of partner, would that make for a bad sub?

I find I genuinely don’t really…feel really inclined, or intimidated/scaredy cat about a dom’s possible punishment or adhering to rules unless they’re a complete no nonsense kind of partner (when it comes to dominating, I guess). Or, almost like a dom+dom mutual ‘NO’ until one proves they’re really in charge is what would warrant a genuine, earned submission from me.

I hope that doesn’t come off as pompous, or egotistical; I’ve been trying to introspect on it privately for a little while, but am interested in what more experienced partners might have to say. 🤔