Isn't this a bit of an incorrect usage of the term "backpressure"?

OP quoted the correct definition right at the start:

> In systems engineering, backpressure is the mechanism by which a downstream component signals upstream that it can't accept more work

(the "downstream component" being the human reviewer in this case)

But the measures they propose don't actually do that. They are more like fixed throttle elements which would slow down the rate of submissions of an agent and weed out some low-quality submissions before hitting "downstream".

I'm missing the connection to the actual capacity (or will) that the human developers have to review the submissions.

Author here. Well noted. I do think backpressure might not be the ideal analogy/term.

It comes from previous posts I’ve come across, but I haven’t considered exactly what you mentioned. That’s on me.

It is an incorrect use of what was already a flawed metaphor. Pressure is isotropic. Directed pressure makes no sense, like all other fluid analogies in unrelated fields of engineering.