I've used the entropy analogy also. In particular, entropy always wins in the end. But I do think it weakens the "debt" analogy to consider it the same thing,

I've used the entropy analogy also. In particular, entropy always wins in the end. But I do think it weakens the "debt" analogy to consider it the same thing, because I like the idea that this is sometimes transactional - a choice you make for benefit now which has amortized cost. I think this is a valuable idea that is separable from the problems of complexity growth, entropy, etc. I certainly don't agree with the idea that all technical debt is due to shoddy work, that's obviously silly. I suspect that people fall into it because it is easy to understand. The original framing is more nuanced and harder to think about but no less in effect.