The ONLY reason I can see that forward handing was made illegal is something like this play:
Team A 3rd and goal at the 5. A35 runs the ball to the A1, while standing up and being surrounded by many B players who are trying to tackle him but can't. A35 reaches out with the ball, but can't quite get the nose of the ball into the endzone. A32, in advance of the ball in the endzone, upon seeing this situation, takes the ball from A35's out-stretched hands, and scores a touchdown.
If the play was this, it would be LEGAL (changes in BOLD):
Team A 3rd and goal at the 5. A35 runs the ball to the A1, while standing up and being surrounded by many B players who are trying to tackle him but can't. A35 reaches out with the ball, but can't quite get the nose of the ball into the endzone. A35 drops the ball straight down. A32, in advance of the ball in the endzone, upon seeing this situation, takes the ball from the air inches below A35's hands, and scores a touchdown.
I just don't get it.