That's one way to look at it, but the air grab doubles as an anti jump out, if they like to chicken block, you pretty much have them. Plus a barrier is a more easily visual cue that you're up to something, a quick air grab is harder to notice and if you IAD right, the sound cue will throw them off, similar to Ragna's 6d[delay]d mix up.
Barrier is good for baiting DPs, but if you're on the offense, air grab would be the better choice.
At least in my opinion.