Overdone can be very good, if one has control of the process, as we see it is here. This is a really good image, because it uses "overcooking" to deliver a strong and compelling image.
My tastes run like yours; HDR to me, is for increasing dynamic range to make an image more real-looking. But I can appreciate a heavier treatment, so long as (as is the case here) it is controlled and used purposefully.