@scottjenson Thank you for all the clarifications in this thread.
For me the term "UX/UI" was an improvement, because it was acknowledging that you don't just need a pixel person, you need someone trained in usability as well. Most projects I've worked didn't even have a pixel person, much less someone who understands human/machine interaction.
But you're coming from a perspective where the usability experts and interaction designers already existed and were watered down into this shapeless UI/UX role.
I 100% believe that the focus should be on interaction and usability first, and visual design being a subordinate activity that flows from there.