I find your examples confusing, but looking at the article and your question here is what I have to say:
Conditional apologies indeed leave space for possibility that there is nothing to apologize for.
This in itself is not rude.
Actually, I believe that such constructs became popular because it allows you to be extra polite and to apologize for minor things which might or might not have caused any discomfort to someone.
In this light, conditional apologies are best used not as actual apologies, but as a polite question, e.g:
"I am sorry if the spices are not to your liking."
to which a reply might be
"Don't be silly, it is delicious."
or
"It is fine, I am just not so used to them."
to which then actual apology is given
"I am so sorry I completely forgot that you are actually not from these parts. Please have some fish, it is not hot at all."
Both branches of conversation are polite and respectful.
So, while it is not an actual apology, but only implies it conditionally, it is definitively not rude on its own.
Context determines it - it will be seen as rude if:
- direct apology is obviously necessary ("I am sorry if my running over your dog caused you any pain.", "I am sorry if my insults to your mother bother you." - here what is insulting is not the conditional, but the implication that you actually might not care)
- is used sarcastically (both of previous examples might be sarcastic, with intent to hurt, but notice that context can be imagined in which intention of hurt is not present and the choice is simply due to clumsiness or actual state of facts - if for example the person addressed wanted to get rid of the dog or if he is not even talking to their mother)
Best Answer
I think Kris' comment is correct in saying that 'guy' as a "term of address" is not polite.
There is a lot of subtle nuance with terms of address. For example, "lady" is a term of respect, and it's perfectly fine to say someone is a lady, but as a term of address, e.g. "Lady, there's nothing I can do about it." it comes across as impolite, a sort of passive-aggressive use of the term of respect, turning it into one of contempt.
"Guy, can you help me out?" has a sense of condescension, because a "guy" (and similarly "fellow") is almost by definition anonymous. It implies that "I don't know who you are, and I don't care who you are, you are just a guy, and thus I'd rather not deal with you if I could avoid it, but I can't, so..."
Even "dude" isn't as grating to me as "guy". Maybe this is because "dude" is so informal that it dispenses with all pretense of politeness, and both parties will understand that. Also, it is not as anonymous as "guy". You could address your friend, who of course you know by name, as "dude" -- "Hey dude, long time no see!", and the same goes for buddy, pal, etc. But if someone said to me "Hey, guy, long time no see!" I would immediately suspect that he has forgotten my name and is trying to cover it up.