All metaphors are a stretch. If they were absolutely analogous to the original there wouldn't be metaphors in the first place.
Something doesn't have to be of equal value or importance to the thing its a metaphor for, just to convey the mechanics of the thing. It doesn't even have to convey the full thing, just the part the metaphor is intended for.
In other words, one can use e.g. the Cold War as a metaphor for some office turf situation, even if the Cold War has millions of victims in proxy wars and could potentially have meant the end of the world, whereas office politics are much more inconsequential.
Something doesn't have to be of equal value or importance to the thing its a metaphor for, just to convey the mechanics of the thing. It doesn't even have to convey the full thing, just the part the metaphor is intended for.
In other words, one can use e.g. the Cold War as a metaphor for some office turf situation, even if the Cold War has millions of victims in proxy wars and could potentially have meant the end of the world, whereas office politics are much more inconsequential.