Does removal of obsolescent utility syntax mean that implementations supporting usages of head -5 file, tail -5 file, tail -l file are no longer allowed?
No, in general the intent of removing the obsolescent forms of the utility synopses was not to disallow them to be supported by implementations but to downgrade the status of their use in applications from conforming application using an obsolescent feature to non-conforming application. In general it is allowed for utilities to have extensions that violate the utility syntax guidelines so long as the forms defined in the standard that are required to follow the utility syntax guidelines do so. The cases cited fit the case. The Austin Group has more general cases under review at the present time.
