IMO, the nec needs work here however I cannot see how a piece of equipment with a built in overcurrent protective device can be considered standard overcurrent protective device. As far as whether the wire to the unit is a feeder or a branch circuit also needs work. IMO, if a circuit is run to a disconnect and that disconnect, with overcurrent protective device, feeds one piece of equipment then the entire run should be a branch circuit.
I brought this up recently to the cmp members (FWIW) and they totally agreed-- they said yes it is a feeder but it is really a branch circuit-- you can't have it both ways...