this linguistic strategem did not help any

You may have a point here, wsieber. I recently encountered a discussion on radio that mentioned the way PC language can itself be simlpy subverted. The example offered was the term challenged, originally intended to eliminate the negative connotations of insulting school yard phrases - yet now hurled about with exactly the same glee by monstrous spotty Kevins all over the place! "Oh, dear - Tracy's a bit challenged, yeah!" The point being made was that no PC dyke could hope to hold back the floodwaters of actual meaning - if the intention is to wound, a non-emotive phrase can be invested with just as much poison as an obviously acidic word.

But I still find gender a useful term, even though I like sex in many other places - and is sex ever plain?