IMO, CT psi isn't meant to model the Force (et al), but the 'sport' powers that some Golden Age protagonists had: not very powerful, possibly entirely self-taught, but the mere fact that they /had/ it (and that such powers were rare enough the bad guys might plausibly not know anything about it) was often enough to get them out of a tough spot or tip the balance in their favor.  It's not a suite of strong abilities you rely on constantly, like a Jedi or a Lensman, but something you pull out once or twice a novel to get past a plot obstacle, like James Bond's latest Q-issued spy gadget.