I think the term Instinctive comes from two misunderstandings. One is not understanding "instinctive" in the way that it is something we are born with. The other is misunderstanding how they actually shoot, forgetting the learning that went on to get even part way good at it.
I liken it to driving over those speed bumps that we try to straddle with our wheels. After a while you can judge how to get over without getting either wheel going over the high spots. We don't use sights on the bonnet, but we do use references that let us know which way to adjust the approach in order to stay on the best line. I first noticed this when I changed my car for a much wider one. I have already forgotten what the references are that I used to adjust my approach; I drive over now, without really noticing how I adjust.
I suppose I could say it's just instinctive now..... but that is the wrong word. It should be "without any conscious effort" perhaps.
Using "instinctive" because it is shorter and easier to say... yes, I could fall into that one. Passing it on to other drivers as instinctive...... no; I shouldn't do that.
I agree with you there, and the time that really annoyed me was at a tournament when I overheard an archer who I was shooting with talking to another AFB archer and telling him that he didn't aim, just looked at the target and shot, he claimed that he didn't even see the arrow when he was at full draw. The issue I had with this is that only 2 targets before the break this archer told me exactly what he was aiming at even pointing out the exact flower that he was using as a reference point. So why did he tell me that he was aiming precisely and someone else that he just looked at the target and shot?
To me the answer was I was beating him, so obviously wasn't going to take his advice, the other archer was an up and coming archer in the same category so was a threat and the false info could hold the other guy back. Either that or he wanted to be "cool" by being an instinctive archer.
(The archer he spoke to was a member of my club, who I coach, and I did confirm t hat I hadn't miss heard)