That's why they're explicitly not referred to as laptops but notebook computers. It's the reason Apple calls them MacBooks only and not laptops.
What you're referring to is a branding tactic. It has nothing to do with some subconscious direction on how to use the device. It's not only reasonable, but expected, that customers will use the device in their laps... no matter what the naming convention. Come on.
Edit: It was a Dell Latitude that burned the man's penis: http://ftp.compal.com/Download/NB/NCL50/User-Service%20manua...
Oh, really? Let's see.
Dell: https://www.dell.com/en-us/shop/dell-laptops/sc/laptops
HP: https://store.hp.com/us/en/cat/laptops
ASUS: https://www.asus.com/us/Laptops/
Lenovo: https://www.lenovo.com/us/en/laptops/c/LAPTOPS
Toshiba: http://laptops.toshiba.com/computers-tablets/home/
Acer: https://us-store.acer.com/laptops
Samsung: https://www.samsung.com/us/computing/windows-laptops/
I will stop there, because it's obvious that 'the entire industry' did not make a 'huge hard stop and turn on the terminology'. Stop being a fool.
If that's not the case anymore, then that's just because I haven't bothered to keep up with the industry as I no longer work in comms for PC manufacturers. As I said, I haven't put any thought into it recently. I'm neither being a fool nor am I lying, as you seem to be implying. Times change and I prefaced my statement to admit that the info might be outdated.
I can't even believe you put all that effort into collecting those links. That literally does not change the fact that there was an industry-wide aversion to using the term "laptop".