Actually, R’ Moshe’s hagdarah is very much tied to subjective perceptions.
Using a Shabbos clock for lights is not inherently different based on historical usage of nochrim, but it’s perception as a chillul of Shabbos is.
Rav Moshe might today be mattir a/c through a timer. It’s wide acceptance may remove its status as a zilzul. The inventor of this switch is hoping (and was predicting to potential investors) that this will happen with this switch, but I don’t think a melacha caused by our actions on Shabbos could ever not be considered a zilzul.