SBD collects interest regardless if you hold it in the savings or not (as long as the witnesses have set the parameters of the blockchain to do so). The statement "currently collecting 0% APR" is just informing that currently SBD do not accrue interest.
I agree that the wording is confusing.
BTW Dan is no longer part of Steemit Inc. He resigned his position as CTO several weeks ago.
I knew he had resigned, but I figured if anyone would know it would be Dan or Ned.