Dean, take deep breath. I agree with you. I always tell people I'm from Western NY (Tonawanda, not to be confused with North Tonawanda, or the Town of) and went to college in Central NY. I never say Upstate, ever. Upstate is like Albany.
Buffalonian's designate neighborhoods the same as New Yorkers do. Riverside vs South Buffalo for example.
I'm not the guy who started the post, but people from places like Cortland or Binghamton are more likely to use Upstate, because Central NY is more associated with Syracuse and Utica.
Love that neighborhood.