As far as i know, wikilambda isn't really based around the mediawiki template system. And the mediawiki ecosystem itself is turning away from complex wiki syntax templates to lua based templates.

Regardless i do agree with you though. WikiLambda/Abstract wikipedia feels like second system syndrome to me.

WikiLambda is what happens when someone looks at the definition of the second-system effect and says, "Hey, that's cool and all, but I bet I can make a bigger, better version of this."

The estate of Jorge Borges should sue.