Actually the rules are stricter than earlier. With improving standards for search results and more stiff tracking for fraud, AdSense accounts are removed when slight fraud is noted.
This same applies when applying for approval. I will say that it is for more users rather than some users.
It is better to read through the guidelines given by Google so that they can have their Adsense approved for the same.
I myself after reading the guidelines given by Google and applying them accordingly, had then got an approval from Google.
This favors the correct people to have Google adsense for them.
Regards,
Dr. Apurva A. Tamhane
B.H.M.S., C.C.H., C.G.O., M.D. Homoeopathy