I see your point but I'd say it's more than just semantics. Semantics would be a market research versus direct marketing issue. This is a distinction between Sales and Marketing, and an important one. Market research is not necessarily lead generation and won't pay the bills.
Conversion in a Sales sense means that you've sold something. In a marketing sense it means that your goal has been reached (which may also be selling something, but could be an action).
For getting an MVP out I think this approach could work really well. I just wouldn't advocate it as a sales strategy not because it doesn't directly involve selling but because it takes time away from selling.
Bear in mind that you don't need the product to be ready to close your first sale, as long as the lead times are reasonable.
Conversion in a Sales sense means that you've sold something. In a marketing sense it means that your goal has been reached (which may also be selling something, but could be an action).
For getting an MVP out I think this approach could work really well. I just wouldn't advocate it as a sales strategy not because it doesn't directly involve selling but because it takes time away from selling.
Bear in mind that you don't need the product to be ready to close your first sale, as long as the lead times are reasonable.