PS- to answer your question: While I understand that roadies/modern mtb folks/non-cycling ppl/etc might view the terms as being interchangeable, I believe that actual cruiser ppl-- the sort of ppl who build and own and study cruisers-- do not feel that these are interchangeable. I feel that the sort of ppl who might actually post here see a very obvious distinction between the two.

And that may not apply to all of us, but it clearly does apply to some. And to those who don't see a distinction, they'd theoretically come on here anyway, right?