remember too that your instrument for giving ALTIMETER SETTINGS is compensated for your local elevation. IF you brought your instrument to the top of the mountain without compensating, there would be a problem.
NOW I don't mean giving out QFE. QNH (also known as altitude above mean sea level)
There is confusion in my mind whether your friend means the altimeter changes or the ALTIMETER SETTING CHANGES.
I do ask this. Some places just use an altimeter to get the SETTING. They just keep turning the knob until the elevation is read in the altimeter and then they look at the KOLLSMAN window for the setting.
hope this doesn 't confuse you too much.