As a CEO id be stupid to get a salary. Dividends and stocks are much better tax-wise. Well maybe id get a smaller salary for the advantages in retirement and tax-free accounts and everything, but not much more than whats needed.
Yeah people don't seem to understand taxes wrt stock at all. RSUs are definitely taxed!
Only thing I can think of is they're thinking of options? Afaik those can be advantageous, tax-wise, because you are taxed when you exercise, not when they're granted or when they vest (this is my understanding --- I could be wrong).
Options are basically just a special price you get to pay for stock. There's another concept called "stock appreciation rights" in which shares are granted at a given strike price, and taxation only occurs on the price difference upon exercise (sale).