Jesus Christ if Valve released HLA as your standard "Phase through walls and teleport" VR Gameplay Tech Demo, then VR would be dead.
Cause think about it, if Valve, this major gaming company known for their innovation and experience studying and developing VR hardware, can't do anything more than the same gameplay that's been used since the start of VR, then there would be no hope for VR.
I know for a few of my friends, and myself included, that one major turn off of VR was the Teleportation and lack of Collision in games.
Those type of games just don't look good, I mean sure there are some aspects of the game that look fun and all but I want a video game that feels like an actual video game and not some VR tech demo.

I am glad Valve changed their mind and followed Boneworks, otherwise I can see HLA flopping alongside VR if they went the usual VR route.