The ban against leg attacks is not due to wrestlers as commonly thought. It was due to judoka grabbing legs as a stalling/blocking tactic which was leading to many matches won by a small score or penalty. This has gone through several variations. First you couldn't grab the pant leg fabric. Then you couldn't touch the leg as part of the primary attack, had to be a follow-up or counter. That was deemed too complex so finally they just said nothing below the waist, just like the high school dance. Still OK in ne-waza.
IJF is trying to encourage ippon judo. Statistically they have succeeded I am given to understand. However many of us feel they have thrown the baby out with the bathwater on this one.