Is there a more scientific term for this phenomenon other than Bendy light?
What makes "bendy light" unscientific?
The only way to measure the bendiness of light is to rely on an assumption which is the earth being flat. That is itself an unproved ingredient of the equation. There is no evidence of light being bendy without looking at a horizon. Bendy light was disproved ages ago but your pretending not to notice.
How?
I think he's basically saying the Earth being round is as valid an explanation for light activity as light being bendy, so it should not be considered evidence until either bendy or straight light is proven or dis proven.
And actually bendy light hasn't been disproved I think, because I'm pretty syre science has proven light bends in the presence of black holes, which is why they are black.
But, that doesn't prove the bendy light in FE, because then there would have to be a black hole nearby.