I agree. It's the law. Does it make it right. Not IMHO.
If I were on the jury, I'd weigh the facts on what is right and reasonable. again JMHO
(b) The actor
knows that he can avoid the necessity of using such force
with complete safety by retreating or by surrendering possession of a thing to a person asserting a claim of right thereto or by complying with a demand that he abstain from any action which he has no duty to take
Interesting that the lawmakers chose to require that a person have "knowledge" that retreating would result in "complete safety". Often the language is along the lines of "reasonable belief" or "when a reasonable person would conclude", etc. Defense attorney to client on the stand: "When you saw the deceased walking up your driveway carrying a baseball bat and shouting threats to kill you, did you KNOW that you could have retreated in complete safety?" Client on stand: "No." Defense attorney: "Your honor, I rest my case."
Of course it's not really that simple, but a jury might be inclined to see it as self-defense even if the requirement were "reasonable belief or conclusion". Another factor might be whether either party had prior arrests/convictions, especially for violent acts or threats.
I suppose that the prosecutor could claim that the defendant could have "compl[ied] with a demand that he abstain from any action" by simply saying "Okay, I won't f*ck your former girlfriend any more." Would the guy with the bat simply have stopped, said "thanks", turned around, and headed home?