Perhaps you are correct, but if there is a clearly defined holding point then why not just say "hold at X" instead of "hold short at X"?
Perhaps the "hold short" instruction should be used only when there is no defined holding point?
I believe this is coming from the last safety push with regards to runway incursions.
If it is obvious that the aircraft is slowing down for the holding point then I doubt the controller would say anything - if however the aircraft does not appear to be slowing down to stop then the controller will probably say it, or should re-iterate the hold command.
I agree, however, that "hold short of holding point X" and "hold at holding point X" should mean two different things!
"Hold short at X" doesn't seem to make much sense as the word "of" should be used in a hold short command - i.e. "Hold short of runway/taxiway XX"