When I started in boating it would of had been poor seamanship to change your course if you were stand on vessel. ( yes I am old) then as the number of small boat increased the big boat "rule" became the normal.
My feeling is there are no rules out there, being dead and right, does not work for me. I never go in front of someone as it turn over control of the situation to the other boat. If I go behind I have so many more options to stay out of trouble.