Joe Public walking onto an RPT aircraft at a capital city for a regional area reading that line will think they are in controlled airspace all the way.
Joe would have NFI what controlled airspace was, possibly thinking at best if an ATC is responsible for them then the "Controller" word means they are being continuously controlled.
So the argument is just going around in circles.
In addition, both articles rely on a journalist interpreting what someone has said, without - dare I say it - NFI of the subject matter.
The people gaining all of the savings with ADSB are the big airlines
If by "big airlines" you mean QF VA internationals etc. the benefits of continuous surveillance are benefiting far more than them e.g. the smaller airlines & charters in W.A. & S.A. etc. I recall seeing published somewhere a note from the RFDS expressing appreciation.
Granted, private and local charters in Class G see less benefit.
Strangely enough, I recall exactly the same grumbling when transponders became mandatory for operations in CTA
