I think the issue is more how it is presented to the user. The current Steem/Steem Power using the same currency units is a vast, huge, enormous improvement over the previous VESTS with its own units, but it is possibly still too confusing. I'm not really sure from reading the post if he is responding to the white paper or the current power-up/power-down UI on the web site.
There are all sorts of low-level details that are never directly presented to the user in terms of the details of the voting algorithms and such, and that is all fine. I don't think anyone disputes the idea that having a locked unit is needed, but the question is more how to present that and present it in the least complicated way that still functions.
how about trying to teach people the basic withdrawal steps first so that they are rest assured they're "money" is easily accessible?. Also, I think they'll be more inclined to worry less and invest long term.