I’m sensitive to the distinction you’re making, I have had abusive partners. One of whom is a routine and often daily reminder of things I’d like to leave behind but haven’t yet been able to. I didn’t take the figurative way the other comment was phrased to mean literally that. Because you’re right, it’s not the same.
Consider that the analogy is intended to illustrate the mechanisms at play, and not the import.
A bad analogy is a bad analogy. If you want to illustrate the mechanism at play, come up with an analogy that fits the situation.
I'd agree that it's an overall failed analogy because people here are being distracted by the intensity signal, but I still see it as a good analogy for the purposes of illustrating the mechanism.