as much as i WANT to disagree with you, you're right. that's the issue with the aforementioned "irregardless." by all rights it SHOULD be incorrect, but it's in the dictionary which makes it correct. also, a friend of mine pointed out something that i've always hated him for, but a "word" is something that conveys an agreed upon meaning. if someone uses a word and there's no question on what that word means, then it is considered a legitimate word. he was like, when i say "irregardless" it doesn't matter that mechanically it means the opposite of "regardless," all that matters is that everyone knows that it's functionally a synonym of "regardless."
i told him i hated him and never wanted to talk to him again. we haven't spoken in probably 10 years.
but he's right.