I think my fourth son is adopted as Poland and it shouldn't be any trouble to throw him in the ocean near Constantinople. I like this rule, I just forgot about it in all the things that have happened since the game started. Now that things are moving faster and we have a more interested group I think we can observe this rule fairly easily.

A large part of the trouble with adopted generals is that we know how to manipulate their creation. As Poland my provinces are a long way ahead of my generals so I could pretty easily create 4-5 extra generals. When there isn't a crusade that's not quite as big a deal, but when a crusade is on each of those generals can pretty quickly march to a new region, recruit those excellent mercenaries, and become an instant army.

Also we have to consider that factions which have kept to this rule are now at a disadvantage. It's unfair for some of us to have the head start we have.