The parent is making the correct claim that the voting outcome by state (or CD, in the states that split their vote) fully determines the winner, and the electoral college is a procedural formality. The way the votes are weighted is different from "count the popular vote nationwide", but that doesn't mean we don't directly elect the President.
Electors are independent agents and in theory could cast votes differently than one would expect, 'procedural formalities' could be abolished but this actually has a real effect.
