That doesn't really change the fact that Lazarus Long (and Jubal Harshaw, for that matter) are basically in-character excuses to espouse Heinlein's views on lif

That doesn't really change the fact that Lazarus Long (and Jubal Harshaw, for that matter) are basically in-character excuses to espouse Heinlein's views on life, the universe, and everything. Just because he's aware of his own views' flaws doesn't make them not his views. An author surrogate is not necessarily a Mary Sue.