The guy says "so will I start at 26" and DeeJ says "you're good to go."
Notice how direct his answers are to everything except those about levelling. He never says your light level is converted to experience. That wouldn't even make sense. The whole point is that light level is now separate from player level. Also, you don't have a specific light level. It depends on what you are wearing. They can't force you to be locked at the level of gear you happen to be wearing September 14th at midnight.
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It's the very next thing he says. Interviewer asks for clarification, deej says he will quickly be able to level up from 26.
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He was trying to change the subject and get away from starting level. He never once confirmed that light level was going to be converted to player level. In fact, he pretty much stated the opposite.