One would expect an alternative to a thing to share enough characteristics with the thing to make it an alternative.
Turkey is an alternative to chicken. Ice cream is not. Teaching rationality through stories and deep-wisdom tropes is an alternative to teaching mysticism through stories and deep-wisdom tropes. Teaching rationality through academic papers is not.
Given that Eliezer wrote HPMOR is not really turning away from mysticism and teaching through stories.
One would expect an alternative to a thing to share enough characteristics with the thing to make it an alternative.
Turkey is an alternative to chicken. Ice cream is not. Teaching rationality through stories and deep-wisdom tropes is an alternative to teaching mysticism through stories and deep-wisdom tropes. Teaching rationality through academic papers is not.