:-)
I'd care less if it would be 'steampunk' or not, as long as it looks nice and someone enjoys making it and goes through the trouble making an instructable., but your 'defense' is going the wrong direction :-) If it was for electrical output, doesn't that make it non-steampunk by definition? :-)
Anyway, who cares, it looks great

Good points. If every last item in a Steampunk environment had to have gears glued onto it, the style would be compromised and have to be called Clutterpunk. These would do well in a Steampunk scene. It's the branding of the style that needs clarification as the Steampunk aesthetic matures. This project is a great idea for the Steampunk inspired decor as it is (or better with rosenred's wood base idea) without brass and tubes, but clearly conflicts with some folks strict interpretation of the style, expecting some form of enhanced mechanical functionality.

On one hand we have Steampunk-washing where people claim anything with useless superfluous contraptions to be of the style and instead cheapening it's public image and interpretation. On the other, you have this project which doesn't necessarily fit the strict interpretation of the mechanically based pre atomic movement. It does however feel right at home filling gaps in the aesthetic although better described as "Victorian era scientific" which Steampunk is a product of.

My props to the author for creating this simple tutorial which certainly will be of use to those interested in achieving an authentic Steampunk environment. Since the broader term "Victorian era scientific" will never be a sexy and people wouldn't know how to find this Steampunk related project if it was not called such. We (as the makers and those who will define the Steampunk movement for the rest of the world) need to either find another word that embodies the wider world of the re-imagined Victorian scientific aesthetic or adopt non steam power themed items like this into the "Steampunk" family brand.