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Well, given all the variations, to me it's about two things:
1: Simplicity in form. Simple headstock (not big, not gaudy), simple body (original had no contours, simple pickguard, etc.), simple controls.
2: the odd ability to have a distinct sound (bright, edgy, covers both twang and a bit of raunch) and incredible flexibility (country, rock&roll, some jazz, etc.).
Now, various models may alter one or more of these things, but to really feel like a true Tele, they have to keep most of them. So my '72 Tele Custom adds a crazier pickguard and a WRH in the neck, but retains the body simplicity, headstock, bridge & pickup. the controls are more complex, obviously, but it doesn't get gadgety with any active electronics or anything.
People add a bigsby---fine. especially if you don't change much else.
People change the neck to a strat type. Again, fine, unless you rip everything else out too. The Tele Deluxe (the 79's style) pushes the limit here to create a guitar with contouring, a strat neck, and different pickguard, different controls, and twin 'buckers. It's really nothing like a normal tele but the outline, and the fact that the WRHs are very fender-ish sounding 'buckers. It's pushing the limit, but because the controls are still pretty simple, and the WRHs are unique to it.......maybe it still counts.
The only "tele" guitars that I find TOTALLY odd are ones that are set neck, twin gibson-style 'buckers, super-high polish on a highly figured maple-capped body, carved top, contoured back, with all sorts of complex electronics on them. The ONLY tele-like thing they retain is the body outline. Nothing else is true tele-like.
That's my .02.
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