should you always split aces and eights or are there exceptions?

I’ve always heard that splitting aces and eights is like the golden rule in blackjack, but I’ve started wondering if there’s ever a time to leave it alone. Most of my play is at online tables where the house rules can be a little different, and lately I’ve seen a few sharp players say it might not be optimal every single time. Sometimes you can’t resplit, or they only let you hit once on split aces, and I’m guessing that changes the math a bit.

I know the basic strategy charts all push splitting those hands, but real-life tables aren’t always perfect world scenarios. Say you’re at a table with awful rules, or your bankroll’s in rough shape and you don’t want to risk doubling your bet on a single round. Curious if anyone sticks to the rule no matter what, or if you let table rules or other stuff push you away from the classic advice.