I wasn't referring to factoring. I quite like lattice based and ECC systems. I was referring to 'if it's hard for me it must be hard for you'. ALL cryptography is based off of that assumption.
edit: I can't seem to reply to you again, so I'll edit. This is all a big miscommunication. I was more confused than hostile, though I recognize how it came off poorly. I genuinely thought he had some fundamental understandings due to the combination of things he said. I was mistaken and my response came off poorly.
That's a reading of the original comment so uncharitable as to seem tendentious. The commenter was specific about factoring; they were not calling into question the entire idea of a trapdoor function.
edit: I can't seem to reply to you again, so I'll edit. This is all a big miscommunication. I was more confused than hostile, though I recognize how it came off poorly. I genuinely thought he had some fundamental understandings due to the combination of things he said. I was mistaken and my response came off poorly.