XD i have experienced exactly this on various occasions, even from my avain vet.
When asked i always say that Pickle is my first bird, because technically he is my first companion bird with the intention of training. I have had budgies and lovebirds, and my sister had a cockatiel, and my uncle had a galah, so i am not inexperienced. but once i say that he is my first people give me a funny look and wonder why anyone would pick en eclectus for their first bird, and if they know what they're talking about i get interrogated on his diet, and people wonder why i'm not scared of him, because hes not the smallest of species. XD
i guess i never specify because pickle's care does pale when compared to those experiences and i don't really count them as meaning much - anything i learned before i got him, pretty much went out the window when he arrived anyway.
and here i am - if you went through my history you would probably find similar comments to other people considering eclectus. I never mean to dishearten them, and i do not usually consider my comments hipocritical. larger birds are wonderful companions when they have a wonderful owner.
I (and i think many other people) only mean to make sure that others are aware of the commitment before they make it. For one with little experience it may even be hard to find the right questions to ask so how are they supposed to find the right answers? I appreciate all the help i have found here.
Instead of letting her dishearten you i think you should be proud that you have done your research and already knew about what she was going to say before she said it, she just didn't know that. ;D
* i think i have an older version of that cage, perhaps a different brand. I liked it at the time

but it is quite tall, i never can arrange the opening top with a perch i can properly reach haha