No, that's largely just the strawman that Leeroy was constructing. However, given the choice between enduring some brief discomfort and accelerating a process which is already causing deaths and misery, I'm pretty clear about where I stand.

I was arguing that it's far too premature for most UK households to be adopting aircon, and expressing a fear that many of those early adopters will start to use it on occasions where it absolutely isn't warranted, and will skip over other intermediary measures (that don't increase energy consumption at the worst time.) I've seen how the carbrains in the UK operate; this will be no different.

Heat pumps do have a measurable impact on local temperatures and in dense urban environments can raise it by about 4°. When enough people start using it for comfort (instead of necessity), it can have a chain reaction - compelling others to join in out of necessity.

As for my knowledge/ignorance of heat pumps, I believe I'm reasonably well versed in the technology - and a big proponent. Within the last year I wrote a business case and a grant application for a social club to have air-to-air heat pumps installed. I'm currently working to have the space registered as a warm/cool place for the local community.