Maybe "violated" is too strong of a wording. But the intent of the "Pipe Creek" Order/suggestion was to direct the movements of the separated Corps toward one place.

As long as Meade's Corps were scattered all over southern Pennsylvania and Maryland, Lee's had the conditions that he was looking for to catch one or two of those Corps away from the close support of the rest and defeat those isolated Corps with his army. Lee almost succeeded. The 1st Corp was almost totally destroyed on that 1st day and disbanded shortly after the battle.

Yes, Meade did respect Reynolds opinion. Had Reynolds not refused the offer of command he and not Meade would have been in command of the Army of the Potomac. That respect and trust is why Meade placed Reynolds in command of a wing of the Army to include not only his 1st Corp, but Howards XIth Corps.

Had Reynolds complied with Meade's P.C. order, he would not have advanced to Buford's support at Gettysburg. He would have ordered Bufords to withdraw and cover 1st Corps movement to Pipe Creek. Buford nor Reynolds knew where Ewell's or Longstreets Corps were at the time they become engaged.

As it was, it was a close deal anyway. If any one of a hundred things had gone wrong, had Howard not placed his reserve on Cemetery Hill, or been 60 minutes late, or had Ewell moved a little faster and been 60 minutes earlier it would have been a whole different ballgame. And then where would Reynold's have been in history. Would he have been a Hero, or a scapegoat?