Yes, but the verb isn't there. And when the verb isn't there, we tend to consider the word "than" as a preposition rather than a conjunction. (Look at the use of the word "than" in that sentence; isn't it more like a preposition than a conjunction? And there too?)
When we put in the verb, then of course the word "than" changes its function and becomes a conjunction. (I could turn this into a poem, I guess.)
The same thing happens with other words, like "as":
He used his shoe as a hammer.
There it's clearly being used as a preposition (and in this sentence too).
But in the sentence "He used his shoe as he would have used a hammer...", it's clearly a conjunction.
Admit it, doesn't it feel a little bit twee when you say "He's taller than I" (not to mention fatter)?
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