I'd be (just) a little bit more inclined to agree with you if merely the representation was different. But the thing is, so much of the utility of fat pointers is that a fat pointer can refer to any portion of memory. Even a slice of a bigger allocation. The entire idea is that it can denote the size of what it points to, but be still used like a slim pointer. This thing can't pull off the same tricks. Calling it a fat pointer almost an insult to fat pointers. It's kinda like buying a motorcycle and calling it a "car" just because it refers to the concept of transportation with wheels, running on gasoline.