A competent IT professional should realize that there is a vast majority of people out there who do not know or care what .NET is. They are interested in the end product. The nuts and bolts that make up the product is not of most peoples concern or should be. The platform .NET is nothing without a decent understanding of the required objectives. This needs to be effectively communicated to lay people at whichever level this may be. I would not be surprised by your bosses words. It is pure .NET marketing speak that made him think that.