Walter, I disagree with your stance that pente has faded away. the game is fairly popular right now on the internet sites, so I do not consider it to have faded away. now, to address something specific:

you say "So that version has fallen from favor by the powers that be(read: you)."

Where are you getting this? NO serious player considers the game without the restriction to be a legitimate variant. Dozens and dozens of top players would attest to the fact that the ONLY way to play pente is WITH the restriction.