ZNP,
Technically you have a point. But here's the thing. Most Christians don't care about those kinds of detailed distinctions for two reasons:
- They are hard to confirm.
- They don't affect their lives, anyway.
Whether the thief went to heaven or some place other than heaven, what differences does it make in the essential meaning and how you are to live your life? The point was the thief went to the place Jesus was going. The point of going to heaven is it is the place Jesus will be. Wherever that is has absolutely no effect on how you are to live, what type of faith you are to manifest or anything else practical.
Do you really think your kids are going to live a better manifestation of Christian lives if they know they distinction between heaven and paradise? I seriously doubt it. It's a detail.