@prothero,
I agree, and I would go so far to say that mental models
are our reality, that "reality" is the name of the sum of these mental-models.....But "reality" is one of those grand words that mean so many things in so many different sentences.
I see Nietzsche's notion of truth as a "mobile army of metaphors" as related to the description of sub-atomic particle/waves, as well as to the conceptual (pseudo-) foundations of philosophy that so many take for granted, as axioms. (On the Prejudices of Philosophers is
great on this.)
For instance, objective reality. It's one of those "lies" that's necessary for survival, and yet so often scientistic types (as distinct from scientific) make an idol of it. They want to be the voice of this reality as the priest once enjoyed being the voice of God(s). Don't try to tell them that we should settle for the sophistication of our mental models.