I've always felt that God wanted us to eat the fruit all along, and that once we took the first step towards
recognition of
good and
evil, we were ready to leave the
womb of
Eden and mature into
complete human beings. His '
punishment' was just a form of
tough love.
I'm in no position to speak for God, but I know I'd be pretty PO'd if my own progeny were still living at home and not doing anything useful with their lives after 6000 years. I think I may be alone in this belief.