When you introduce something which is irrelevant and misses the point, and then use that to dismiss an argument, yes that is a strawman.

Back to the original issue, the "upload" scenario is usually expressed in the form: (1) somehow scan the brain to sufficient resolution, and (2) create a computer simulation using that data. Even if the scan and simulation were absolutely prefect, better than quantum physics actually allows, it still would be death-and-creation under the OP's framework.

I can't tell from your post if you are including "slowly transition brain into electronic medium" under the category of "uploading", but that is usually grouped under intelligence augmentation, and I don't know any material reductionalist who thinks that would be a death-and-creation.