REWORK for the Academy. Is it needed or not?

That's a debatable statement. Even regarding mirror matches – it's a rather specific game where you know exactly what your opponent has and how it's positioned, and reducing everything to the idea that only mirror matches represent a serious game is incorrect. Moreover, it can't be said that mirror matches definitively determine the strongest player; there's also an element of luck involved, at least in guessing which creature to start with. Different matchups have their own appeal, but that doesn't mean there should only be a focus on mirror matches, and it shouldn't be impossible to strive for some balance without ruining the game. Otherwise, why aren't games limited to a maximum of two heroes and a turn time of two minutes in our rules? That would give newcomers even more chances to beat a "hypothetical stinger," and according to your logic, it would increase popularity.