I knew a lady who identified herself as "a public school at homer." Her definition : I use the public school curricula , but I do it at home.
I think a homeschooler at heart is someone who wants to be as far away from government influence as possible. Being stranded by your state laws is something different. A mother who grits teeth and balks at sending in information , fights the system where she can (legally), regrets even having to give grades to her child , but does so to remain above the law , a woman who yearns for more privacy in educating her children and thinks ALL parents should be given the right to homeschool their children no matter what......I'd consider her a homeschooler.
Someone sitting happily in the land of "I'll do whatever the schools tell me to do , I'll just do it at home"or "I have no idea what my state laws are" ....I don't know that I'd consider that person a homeschooler. I'd consider her public schooler who enjoys her jammies.
It still boggles my mind that I don't need any criteria to be a mom , no one questions my ability (as far as the state is concerned) , no one checks up on me to see that I'm giving my kids a hot meal at least once a day , but mention that I want to teach my kid the ABC's , or the Civil War at HOME...and ohmyword....it's almost frightening how quick people are to judge , make assumptions and try to figure out ways to make that super difficult for you to accomplish. Either by state laws , or making your life hard emotionally....just boggles the mind.