Gradually since 2015 there has been a consistent push for more rigid enforcement of the existing criteria (as they are written in law) and more subjective inspection of the applicants entry history.
I think I am just attacking it from a different perspective. This guy didn't have all the docs so there is nothing about this anecdotal example that would give me cause for concern over any crackdown in PP.
I was referring to the actual post on Reddit. The guy has gone to the embassy under the presumption that the 'cash' rule of immigration applies to the consular process of getting a visa.