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As for the number of tricks in a routine, I thought that tricks were integral to break dancing, while they aren't essential in contemporary.

I would say yes and no (as an opinion because I have just gotten into dancing). Contemporary on this show is a huge lump. Nigel calls many dancers contemporary when they are not that (how else could you put a ballet dancer like Danny in the same category as a fusion dancer like Mark, for example?). Depending on the type of contemporary dancer one is, tricks may be integral. If anyone recalls Danny's final solo last year, that solo was really tricked out but those leaps across stage (I forget the ballet name) and pirourettes are decently common to ballet dancing.

I think the acceptance (by the judges) of tricks as something more than a trick is based on two things A) what I mentioned before - the musicality and the level of planning it shows. Gev's moves were mostly timed to the beats or lyrics (he's done this in his audition solos as well) whereas sometimes when other dancers do it, it was clear they was throwing everything in but the kitchen sink without care for the music and B) the person who is doing those tricks. Marquis was going to go home pre-top 10 no matter what, unfortunately. So one could argue that it was merely an excuse (as I personally feel it was).