This behavior seems inconsistent, since you are definitely able to replace rope with lava if you right click a block.

You can also replace water

...why would Rope, a block made of flammable Straw, be able to replace Lava of all things?
This behavior is intended. It can dive into water because of waterlogging, but Rope cannot survive in the same space as Lava.

...you can replace ropes with lava, as shown:

You just can't reel them inside. Since you can place them normally, it is unintuitive to me as a player that you can't place them the other way.