Fair enough, when we art talking about a charge on a drive. But the scenario I'm most concerned about is the charge called after the offensive player has left his feet. He's a ballistic projectile at that point and, even twisting his body, probably can't avoid a collision if a defender moves in front of him.
Years ago, everybody seemed clear that the defender's position had to be established before the offensive guy left his feet. Maybe some straightening up allowed. but feet definitely planted. No defensive slide if the guy is airborne.
Then in recent years, we started calling a charge on the offensive player if the defender was set at the time of contact - not by the time the offensive player left his feet.
I doubt the rule was written that way but it sure was called that way a lot. And idiot broadcasters would replay the film for us, pointing out that the defender was set - without the slightest reference to when the offensive player left the ground.
The "new" rule strikes me as an over-correction. Now, if the announcers are correct about the wording of the rule, it's not when the offensive player leaves his feet, but when he plants the foot he will elevate from.
Maybe the rules folks decided that this over-correction was needed to make sure that players who are up in the air won't be undercut. I mean it should have that effect. But it will also flip some calls that do deserve to be called charges.
And then there's also the perennial problem of different refs calling things different ways. Which is human nature, of course, but also opens the door to bias.