Silvaire
I totally agree with your comments but the OP started the thread taking about not agreeing with pitch for speed. My point is that he is partially right as both concepts pitch for speed or power for speed in their own right are wrong.
If you look at my previous posts I talked about Gliders in still air relying totally on pitch for speed and light powered aircraft more towards pitch for speed.
With especially students the emphasis has to be that way for just the reasons you point out.
Having said that why does the Citation I fly use pitch for descent on the glideslope autopilot engaged and thrust to control speed? Obviously that works too.
It is really energy management two sources of energy from the airframe in pitch and from the engine.
It is the juggling of both sources as needed which is the correct way.
The old joke of the student sitting on the end of the runway on his first solo pumping the elevator up and down. His instructor approached to ask what he was doing? "I am pitching for speed but not going anywhere
Pace