Agreed. The change was made to conform to ICAO standards[1], which the article alludes to, but doesn't examine the implications of remaining unstandardized. Surely having different phraseology in the US is a separate risk and cognitive burden!
To me the main issue is not "wait" vs "hold"... it's that either way, pilots may misremember having been issues the takeoff clearance. The best defense against this, IMHO, is ground radar to detect the movement as early as possible.
The controller expects you to hear, interpret, and read back the following clearance:
> N1234, you're cleared to airport XXX via fly runway heading until past the diamond-shaped waterway. Then turn right heading 120. Keep your turn within 2 miles of the airport. Radar vectors Woodside, then as filed. Maintain VFR conditions at or below 1100 feet until crossing the Oakland 165 radial, then climb and maintain 2100. Expect FL350 five minutes after departure. Departure frequency 135.65. Squawk 1234.
To me the main issue is not "wait" vs "hold"... it's that either way, pilots may misremember having been issues the takeoff clearance. The best defense against this, IMHO, is ground radar to detect the movement as early as possible.
[1]: https://www.faa.gov/airports/runway_safety/resources/luaw