I don't think you really understand what user experience design is. Good design doesn't automatically mean stripping out features. There is a delicate balance between simplicity, complexity, achieving business goals and user needs that all designers must strive for.
Agreed. "When trying to articulate what it is I do, I find that I default to an older arsenal of terminology to qualify what is actually a fairly simple vocation, built on an assortment of superficial qualifications and reliant on a heavy interaction with a cloud of specialized UX disciplines." Huh?
This person clearly has a difficult time explaining basic concepts (not exactly a trait I'd look for in an IA).