Turning it over in my head since I posted last week, I tried to think of comparisons. The ingredients of the comparison were a promising new tool being demonstrated consensually, but in a way which evoked and reinforced harmful stereotypes many people hope to leave behind, or failing that, problematise. This was quite difficult, but it doesn't really matter - Alex has it right: if technology is presented for discussion, but in a sexist context, it is inappropriate to encourage readers to just pass over it as some kind of unfortunate side-issue. I appreciate the time and consideration people have put into explaining this.