It's only a bunch of buffers to accomodate for cable and LPT impedance. One could call it "cable" - how would you call e.g. Xilinx ParallelIII - cable or programmer?

On the other hand, using these tools involves risks, even if it is "true ISP" - see e.g. this very thread - problems with longer than short cables (crosstalk, skew), timing issues on modern superfast machines, lack of parallel port or a usable replacement on "legacy-free" PCs, OS-dependent software. I don't say it's not usable, but it has caveats so not the best for beginners. I am in favour of somewhat more complicated and more expensive, but in many respects better UART-to-ISP solutions. Well, and now, this involves also certain intelligence, so certainly would be called programmer rather than cable - and it is still ISP!

Jan Waclawek