Very roughly I think you are saying that it is unclear whether rationalists are thinking differently, or whether the think in the same fashion and just think that they think differently?
I suspect their are elements of both: I believe some members of the rationality community do routinely think in a different way to many other people, but I also believe that there is some post hoc rationalisation (as you put it) in the community as well.
I suspect their are elements of both: I believe some members of the rationality community do routinely think in a different way to many other people, but I also believe that there is some post hoc rationalisation (as you put it) in the community as well.