[Shostak]

Yes, the HTH rules are confusing and contradictory; sections regarding HTH on ITL 102-103 and 116-117 do not agree. Unless SJ himself rules on this, we will all have to call it as best we can. Here's a little bit of the how and why I came up with my interpretation:

TFT is fast, simple, and has realatively few special case rules. There is a section of the rules devoted specifically to HTH (ITL 116-117), which contradicts information about Options on ITL 103. According to the rules found on ITL 116-117, moving into HTH occurs during the Movement Stage of a turn, and combat comes during the Action Stage. This is consistent with all other movement and combat. If you allow moving into HTH during the Action Stage, you are introducing a special case of movement. While Melee was clearer about when HTH is initiated, it violates the simplicity doctrine in that it allows for movement during the Action Stage of a turn.

The rule on ITL 116 about how attempting to initiate HTH is considered an attack (ITL 116) also contradicts ITL 102-103. If one again lets ITL 116-117 supercede ITL 103, the rule keeps a figure from making this attempt during the Movement Stage, being repelled by the defender (also during Movement), and then making a normal melee attack during the Action Stage.

So far, this interpretation does not allow a disengaged figure to run (using up to half-MA) straight at a defender facing them and jump them in HTH, since the engagement rules call for them to stop immediately when becoming adjacent. If that is important to you, allowing one to ignore this engagement rule only in this instance introduces no more exceptions than do the RAW.