Three-month-old thread alert! Well, you know what it's like on BikeForums: resurrect a thread and it's "Why didn't you start a new one?" Start a new thread and it's "We had a thread on that - use the search feature!!!"
Anyway, over on Radavist, author John Watson explores 'bike touring vs. bikepacking' in a recently posted editorial.
His take in summary: Bags&bikes used and surfaces ridden are irrelevant. It's all just touring unless it's time/distance competitive (mass start, against the clock, FKT). Only then is it bikepacking.
https://theradavist.com/bike-touring...s-bikepacking/
I think I'm going to start calling the non-competitive, away-from-home rides I do "bummels".
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Three_...rd_'Bummel'