That distinction between rules and state is only in our minds/models, though. In the actual universe, if there is such a distinction to an outside observer, it's lost to those of us stuck in it, because we can effect neither portion of reality.

I don't know if I agree - it seems to me that our ability to effect changes to one, but not the other, is precisely what defines the difference!

For example, my state is not "standing in the front yard", though it could be. I could easily make it so. However, there's a rule against "floating 10 feet up in the front yard without the aid of platforms or balloons, etc"... and I know this is a rule, not a state, precisely because I cannot float!