Practical difference between template "alias" arguments/normal generic arguments in this case?

[Juanjo Alvarez via Digitalmars-d-learn]

Thanks to both, I got it. Type templates for generic types, and 
alias for other things knowing that the instantiation is by 
symbol.

Yes, the "alias this" in my message  was a (double) brainfart, I 
actually wanted to write "alias template".

In this case both functions had the same assembler body which was 
part of what had me confused but I guess that's a compiler 
optimization.