like I said " betraying Norman in the process" was a prerequisite since otherwise it wouldn't hit. Normans main problem with Harry was that he wasn't fit to carry on Normans work and ideals, if his daughter rejecting everything he was to be with Peter it would be like Gwen telling him off all over again
I also think the fact that Spencer managed to retcon Harry into frenching Peter in France, and the internet doesn't crawl with fujos screaming "PARKSBORN CANON NOW!!!" is very indicative of how well comics sell themselves to outsiders, even if they are discussed as much as the Kindred mystery.
Harryfags like Harry and 616 fujos recognize the retcon is bad for the character. Other fujos know about the story as the Norman unfucked Gwen region and move on with their lives.