Yeah it was definitely a retcon and a mostly pointless one at that. Just playing devil’s advocate.
I think if they had addressed the absurdity of the rule in-movie as one of the many reasons the Jedi order is somewhat broken and archaic and tied it into Anakin’s disillusionment with the order, I would be fine with it. But, of course, as is there’s no point beyond Lucas trying to make it an epic love story or whatever.
I thought that it was clear that Anakin’s disillusionment with the Jedi Order was the primary reason for the turn to the dark side after his desire to save Padmé. The Jedi Code forbade attachment to all worldy things, which kept him from his mother, whom he left as a vulnerable young boy, leading to her violent death. The Jedi Code forbade his marriage to Padmé, whom he loved more than life itself. When Anakin learned that the Jedi Council was planning to execute the democratically elected supreme chancellor without a trial and seize direct control of the Republic, Anakin became convinced that the Jedi Order was corrupt. From Anakin’s point of view, Palpatine sought to win the war against the separatists, whereas the Jedi Order only sought to maintain power. Palpatine had told him the dark side could save Padmé, whereas Master Yoda had told him, “Let go of everything you fear to lose.”
The Jedi Code taught Anakin to repress his fear, anger, hatred, and love. Palpatine taught Anakin to give into his repressed emotions, which he desperately desired to hear.
If the Jedi Code never forbade natural emotions such as love and attachment, Anakin would not have been seduced to the dark side.
The Jedi Order had to be at least partially flawed, otherwise Anakin’s turn to the dark side would have been unbelievable.
The “attachment is forbidden” concept was not an excuse for George Lucas to insert poorly written cliché dialogue into the prequels. It was at the heart of the reason why Anakin turned to the dark side.