The Help Squad are forum based, and the ToriAgents are ingame-based
Finding an outdated quotation to "prove" your thoughts doesn't actually make you right, sorry. Staff members probably know what they do a little bit better; if you're being told that current HS duties are basically the same as those of TAs, it means that they are. They have access to beginner lobby, they sit there and help people, the only little difference is that they're not given halfop.