Also, I think their point was not that AGI will never happen, it's more that it doesn't matter whether it happens or not, because AI/AGI will not solve our problems

This exactly. AGI can never solve people problems because those problems are inherent to people. Social problems, for example, don't magically disappear because you have a magic box that does everything.

I think we are further from AGI than people think. I doubt I will live to see it.

I would go far enough as to say that most people alive, if not all, definitely won't see AGI in their lifetime. That's of course besides the point, but still...