The “juxtaposition” theory does not seem to be very well accepted, given how all of the computer programs, etc. don’t use it.
If someone is really following that theory, I can accept their answer. It’s the rest of the nonsense and ignorance used to get to “2” that is questionable.
I'm pretty much in agreement that it's how you learned that makes the difference.
In school, I would have come up with 2, as that is how I learned it from my Algebra teacher - himself a math geek.
In programming, I would have come up with 288. However, if I wanted to come up with two as a programmer, I would have clarified the equation with an extra set of parentheses around the 2(9+3) - (2(9+3)).
The real issue is that the equation should have been better clarified, and if I got the wrong answer (depending on if the instructor was looking for 2 or 288), I would easily be able to state my case for the opposite, using cites from this here interweb thingy.