I own the Stockli Laser AX in 175 (this year's, 19/20) and 183 (18/19), and have demoed next year's (20/21) Blizzard Firebird HRC - in 76 174/r. 15, I believe.
I agree that the HRC is much more a race-derived ski, whereas the Laser AX is its own thing, as described, versatile with a frontside carving bias. The 175 AX is very quick edge to edge - almost too quick, to me; whereas the 183 length AX (the length for 18/19?) and the subsequent 182 (the length for 19/20) are both more charger skis, smooth, a bit heavy for bumps. (Of these, I experienced the 182s (19/20) as easier to initiate, maybe less heavy-feeling, but similar: a more GS feel, a bit too chargy and heavy-feeling for bumps for many, but still a winner.)
The HRC is also very quick edge to edge, in common with the 175 AX, and relatively a bit more so than many of the similarly race-derived frontside options. In this way, to me, it feels faster edge to edge than, say, the comparable width Volkl Deacon, which feels slightly more planted and stable as a result: more directly responsive, maybe, rather than so lightening quick, almost over responsive, as are both some of the Blizzard non-FIS WRCs, and the HRC 76/174 I tried. The Rossi Hero Elite skis that are comparable also feel a bit less quick, some of them to me better and more dialed in (the 174/14, for example), and some more sluggish (the 168/13, for example). But these are all good skis.