Explanation: "We should bring back the guillotine" or similar is a common internet quip in response to billionaires doing billionaire things, when in reality the guillotine was invented to provide equal and humane deaths to people of all classes, and from there it was always a tool of the state rather than the people. Not the best euphemism for "we should depose the bourgeoisie." In fact plenty of Revolutionary justice folks were themselves offed by the guillotine during the Terror.
but it was not the main thrust of the regime.
Wasn't the main thrust of the regime disposing of political opposition of all kinds? I don't think the Federalists were killed because they were reactionary, and the victims of the immediate aftermath of the Lyon revolt alone outnumber Terror victims in Paris.
but rather that as an expression of the potential for violence against established ruling powers,
I mean, setting aside that for the most part the Terror didn't target the aristocracy in any significant way (sans the final month or so period not so aptly known as the Great Terror), were the aristocracy or clergy really the established ruling powers? In 1789 sure, maybe even 1790, but by late 1793, let alone early 1974, I think these guys were clearly the former established ruling powers, so I still think alluding to the Terror doesn't imply a threat to still-in-charge ruling powers. The credit for actually deposing the aristocracy, which was an almost entirely peaceful affair, goes to money (or the lack thereof), the aristocracy (and not in a "bad decisions" kind of way) and the liberal bourgeoisie, respectively.