I think the first computer magazine I read in 1984 used metaphors to explain something in computers and software. Through out my life, in college, in the workplace and even today, we use metaphors to explain everything from very simple to very complex concepts, ideas or problems.
Friday we were having a discussion about Photo Albums on Sampa, and, you can imagine the metaphors: Shoebox, Photo Books, Coffee Table letter photo albums, wall frames, etc.
On the individual context the metaphor that was being used worked, but it didn't extend to the tens of details of a web-based photo album. The problem comes when it does extend, but it doesn't work on the web, yet, you picked your favorite metaphor to go with it.
I say, use real-world objects to give examples, but don't try to make them metaphors of anything. If people cannot think in a virtual context and in untangibles they probably are not creating the next paradigm your web-based startup needs.
I'm the Co-founder & CTO of 
