[steveylang]

I agree with your point, just wanted to add that 'implicate' is not even the right term to describe the paper in question. Metaphors and analogies don't prove or even implicate anything, but can provide new perspectives for considering a subject. Looking at the original paper, that seems to be why steam locomotives are discussed.

[AlbertCory]

Still, "competition" among mechanical devices is inherently different from competition among species or clades.

you're right that it may provoke questions, but the inherent differences would give biologists plenty of reasons to just dismiss them.