Really? When talking to the laypublic, they think we know they are talking about a metric that most people don't even know exists? If you asked 10 people on the street, how many of them would even know high-energy plasma is involved in a fusion reactor?

It's so absurd when talking about an energy generation technology to talk about any energy metric other than energy in versus energy out, it's unfathomable to me that you could possibly believe it's not intentionally deceptive. Either these people can't be trusted with public communication from demonstrated incompetence or intentional deceit. Which one is worse?

They are using this metric in public communication because they know it gets them funding. Full stop. Do they not stop and wonder "why does this metric get us funding?" Your take is incredibly naive.