@John *********
from the perspective of visa classes that could be, but from the perspective of staying long or short, it should fall in the long category. The initial stay is even longer than with most of the non-immigrant visas, with 180 days agaist 90. Non-immigrant visas could indeed be aimed at even longer terms than the five years you get here, but as they also could be limited in time to similar or shorter periods (like the ED version) I think these visas are both considered suitable for long stay.
I think that's what matters to his embassy. And to other things in life, like the possibility to obtain residency certificates, etc.