Avira, it doesn’t sound like anyone is into anything. It wasn’t quoted or normally referenced. We were all supposed to take this passed-around, non-descript reference on faith, and somehow be blown away by it.
What is puzzling is that the same people who throw words like ‘agadeta’ to dismiss a Gemara that literally discussed how it applies, will turn use a passing comment in another context from within a Kabalistic passage to apply to Halachah.
The only common denominator: Choose what you want to justify pre-existing notions.