1 it is not severe, uncomfortable and unpleasant, but not severe
2 it's not a drug
3 there is NO threat of imminent death
4 no one else is being threatened
It's certain you've never been on the board.
It is severe. Number 3 and 4 of your statement are also incorrect.
Even the CIA has admitted it causes permanent, physiological changes to the brain (from unclassified sources).
SERE West is the only place it's still employed if it hasn't been stopped there by now, too.
Air Force and Army SERE didn't ever employ it according to official docs, but if there's somebody on this forum from one of those services who has been boarded we'd sure like to hear from them.
I think #3 is the sticking point. I honestly have waffled back and forth on this over the last 10 years. I think that this is VERY close to the line but probably is not torture.
Most of the other enhanced interrogation techniques (loud music, confined space, constant light) are not close to the line, especially when they are limited in time.