I think it is great that you played. That is not officiating.

Let try some common sense here. Let me know if I lose you. Have you heard of Advantage/Disadvantage? This is the first and most important thing taught to young officials as it is the basis of judgement for making calls.

1st we have to keep in mind who is guarding who. What advantage is gained by an offensive player putting his hands on a defender? None. Unless the O player pushes off, he gains no advantage. The O player is actually helping the defender by doing this because it allows the defender to know where the O player is without looking at him.

2nd because the defender is trying to prevent the O player from doing certain things he is not allowed, by rule, to put his hands on the offensive player. The reason for that is very obvious. The defender gains an immediate advantage when he is allowed to have his hands on the O player. The defender now knows where the O player is, he can control his movements and cuts, as well as prevent or impede those movements and cuts. That is the reason defenders are not allowed to do it. Allowing it gives them an advantage.

Since you played through college I am sure you have had the opportunity to drive to the basket. Anyone that has knows exactly what happens when a defender has his hands on the hip of an O player attempting to drive to the basket. The defender can now control the O players path to the basket or lack there of. Many people don't think about this, but when a person is running, the majority of the time they don't have either foot on the floor. Because of this, when a defender has his hand on the player's hip a very light push can completely change the O player's path to the hoop.

That is the very reason for those rules.