What if you only pay yourself for the time spent actually pressing the keys on your keyboard? Clearly you should only count the time that you're pressing them in, because they bounce back by themselves, so the time the key is going out should not count as billable time.

Points to both views. However, I think a big thing that's being neglected is the fact that this is a sole proprietorship. He's an owner not an employee. Big distinction. And, not unusual for an owner to work for nothing while building up a business.

You're arguing for "authentic profitability," or some such. You make fair points, but since TFA was quite clear, this really is just semantical masturbation.

Where's that money coming from? A grant? Then you're not profitable; you have a runway, and you're still waiting to get liftoff.