Community thoughts on class nomenclature

So back in the day, abilities scaled with AP and autoattacking scaled with AD. League has changed much since then. I've seen people describe AP champs as mages, even if the champion is someone like Diana, Leblanc, or Mordekaiser. To me, those aren't mages, because when I think of mages I imagine a frail old wizard who casts spells at people from a distance. This label works perfectly to describe a champion like Xerath, Vel'koz, and Syndra - not champions who want to get in melee range who happen to scale off of AP.

That label also seems to fit a few AD champs, such as mid lane Varus. While most people would call a ranged, AD scaling champ a marksman, I would also say that they're mages. To me, a marksman is a champion who does consistent damage with autoattacks but has to kite to survive. Mid lane Varus just Q's for damage. The primary difference between Varus and Xerath is that they scale off of a different stat. Is that enough to make Varus not a mage?

Riot seems to have adapted this line of thought as seen by their recent article on champion classes and subclasses. I was wondering how much of the community is in agreement with that.