I can't see the F-14 replacing the F-15 unless there are major budget issues and it is sold as far cheaper to do that. The two USAF and USN produced different planes to meet different requirements, or that is my understanding. The Mig-25 being thought to be a Titanium fighter instead of a Stainless Steel interceptor would not appear to be a make or break issue.
The US Navy requirement put shooting down large numbers of anti-ship missile armed Soviet bombers before they could launch as the prime requirement. Sacrificing the ability to dogfight to get more missiles - AIM-54's for example as you state - more range, better radar etc was acceptable in this context. The USAF was aiming at controlling the skies for 500 miles or so into enemy territory. Dogfighting and SAM evasion maneuvers demanded higher SEP, lower wing loading, and all that good dogfighting performance stuff.
Or at least that is the way it seemed at the time. Yes I do remember the F-15 as a paper project, the slogan 'A fighter pilots fighter plane' is one I still sounded seriously cool to my high school self. Pilots taking on Mig-21's in F-4's - without a gun armament mostly - wanted things the F-4 wasn't, that seems to have been rather important to the F-15 project too.