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Also, some models aren't even wrong, because they fail to make testable predictions

"not even wrong"

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_even_wrong

The map-territory relation is possibly a better fit?

More specifically how Alfred Korzybski put it: "The map is not the territory".

The map will never be the territory, and we are just looking for better maps.

My father-in-law, something of a renaissance man, and also a long-time successful commodities trader, regularly uses your latter expression. The first time I heard him say it, I attempted to correct him (“some are useful”) and he confidently brushed me aside. As I’ve matured, I’ve grown confident that his (your) version is less wrong.