I think that's why they are calling it the way it is. It is so difficult in the pace of play to see whether a slash is finger severing or a love tap. Slashes with no wind up and forceful accuracy with the tip of the blade can be way more damaging than a full wind up. So rather than try to make the mistake of determining how "forceful" a slash is, the league has just decided to call them all.
If you think about it, that was probably the true intent of the penalty upon its birth. Equipment tends to change the nature of penalty calls.
Speaking of equipment, If I had been the glove maker of the guy who got his finger nearly severed by Crosby (forget who it was, a Senator?) then I'd be embarrassed. You'd think they would be ramping up the glove technology to protect the fingers a bit more.