Even back in the day, code review was often more of a helping exercise than gatekeeping. You can only gatekeep so much before they find someone who doesn't. Which is actually a good thing because a lot of people are pedantic about code in ways that also contradict other reviewers, but in my case I just want it to not do clearly wrong things.

I don’t just reject it. I talk to them like a human and peer and tell them what to do better.

Of course this has to be done by people with seniority who are respected. If you don’t have that you’re in a loosing battle.