you weren't 'cheated' because it wasn't an established rule at your game that this move was disallowed otherwise people would have spoken up.

I think it's anal to nitpick rules at a home game. A home game (to me) is just fun with my friends, not the WSOP. When people get too serious, tensions arise and it's just not fun anymore when people get pissy.

...to each 'is own, but if losing the money is that big of a deal to you, maybe you should be playing for smaller amounts where you don't get emotionally wrapped up in it.