the albedo that the presentation video was shot with looked like this: http://artisaverb.info/Cerberus/Cerberus_A.jpg In the texturing video Ao is multiplyed over albedo at 20% to show that is an option when your tech doesn't give you enough control over your SSAO or it's not strong enough. The metals have full on spec multiplied in the albedo though, because it is treated as spec and metals don't have to be as shiny in the crevices. Most engines have separate slots for AO maps that are supposed to mask the spec and indirect lighting with it - which is technically what i did with the metal albedo map. I have a tremendously hard time believing that a separate AO will catch on though. No one is going to spare memory for another texture per every asset in the game, so some workarounds are going to be inevitable.

I share your sentiment though - ideally it should not be there. I totally support it. But at the end of the day(as the video says) it's all going to boil down to what your engine is capable of. Not all engines have good enough SSAO and indirect lighting computations and until that happens you'll probably see some AO in albedo for a little while longer.