It's not quite as strong, since there are a few differences between the card types that balance them. Of the four basic actions PCs can do once each turn, one of them is "Use an Incantation or Staple", and another is "Play a Card". The latter is your main way to play Warrior and Item cards, but Incantations can be played with either action. Barracks, for example, could be played the same turn as Rest at Camp, but not Healing Idol. You might not use a staple that turn, but incantations are generally stronger (the Salve staple only heals 1 compared to Camp's 2, and staples that lean into your deck's gimmick aren't any stronger innately), and the ability to use 2 cards from your hand can create very strong turns.
Items have three weaknesses compared to Warriors; they can't attack, they can't defeat opposing Warriors when they're attacked (the Warrior stays on field, even if the item wins the clash), and they don't prevent enemy Warriors from attacking their owner directly. The slightly larger EP budget makes up for it. In a way, Incantations also have these weaknesses (they can't attack, can't defeat attackers since they already couldn't be attacked, and don't innately prevent you from being attacked), with the advantage that they can be played.
Overall, this means that playing Healing Idol would make it harder to play other cards to your board, and it would have trouble dealing with enemy Warriors and Items. You might be able to return it to your hand or "flicker" it with the effect of another card to use its ability again, but returning or replaying an Incantation from the graveyard would have a similar cost. It's not strictly better, but it does have its advantages.