Just as 'inspiration' can be used to cover for absence of voice, homages & references can be used to pinch strong aspects of previous works as a clandestine means of claiming them. As with all imitation, there is a big risk of underdeveloping one's creative muscle as a result.

"Man, sometimes it takes you a long time to sound like yourself."
- Miles Davis.

The trick is to not deny ourselves that journey of finding ourselves.

The trouble with imitation (or in whatever disguise it comes—homages, references, 'inspiration') is simply that the core work has already been done. You deny your mental and physical muscles the heavy lifting they need to strengthen. Repeated enough times ... muscles have memory.