Metaphors are a fine way to understand an idea if one accepts that their purpose is to leverage an existing understanding of something, and that they're lossy.

Metaphors are a fine way to understand an idea if one accepts that their purpose is to leverage an existing understanding of something, and that they're lossy. So I guess my issue with your comment's second half is that I don't think metaphors are being used as a shortcut to a full and complete understanding of a topic. They're an aid and I think that is mostly how they're used, IME. I don't think they should be written off.