I'm tempted to (and may) close this thread so we can move on-- it has wandered so far afield of an appreciation of Donald Justice. As with many cases, this boils down to de gustibus n.e.d. TomJ doesn't like him--fair enough--and will not be convinced; so there seems little point in continuing to argue the matter. Discussions of things such as as if/versus like perhaps belong on General Talk, or at least on a separate thread. "As if" is not archaic, and like does not always suffice (grammatically there are cases where "as though" or "as if" is required)--nor do I buy that similes are automatically inferior to metaphors, although that can be a good general rule for beginners with their writing. (I am a great fan of the elegance of the extended simile.) But be that as it may--let's move on.
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