WTP
“Back to the OP- if by chareidi the person meant a strong adherence to halacha, keeping mitzvos without compromise, emphasis on learning Torah and emunas chachamim, then those things have always defined frum people from Sinai and had nothing to do with the haskala.”
With the possible exception of Emunas chachamaim, which depending on what exactly you mean may be a new innovation (and one that defines Charedisim at that). The rest holds true for most of Orthodox Jewry and doesnt serve to define charedisim at all.
OTOH,
” isolationism, type of dress, keeping out secular influences, whether in education or other forms, then he may be correct.”
These are things that ARE unique to charedisim, and as you CORRECTLY note they “did develop as a response to changing times”