Yes, you’re absolutely right, I noticed it either but didn’t fix the dots.:)
The item is still correlative in nature though and derived directly from its non-discontinuous counterpart. ( discontinuity in correlative structures in comprarative sentences, ‘than’ climbs two rungs up the tree , hence discontinuity)
..could squelch the more-than-occasional longing ...
..could squelch the more occasional longing than whatever...
He is earning higher-than-average wages.
He is earning higher wages than (are) average.
If seen as an ad hoc compound premodifying ‘longing’, then hyphenation is indeed usual in careful writing. Or maybe was ?