Right, but the error there is the use of the word "caramelize," which used to have a fairly loose meaning (generally meaning to soften and turn a caramel color)

Right, but the error there is the use of the word "caramelize," which used to have a fairly loose meaning (generally meaning to soften and turn a caramel color) and now people insist must align with the scientific meaning. But the error isn't with the amount of time to cook them. It's with the use of the word. Stick to the recipe's time guidelines. (Also, funnily-enough, the second (highly-upvoted) answer in that thread is me. I guess I've had this discussion before...)