Nickasil was developed so aluminum liners could be used in performance engines. The nickel is only the bonding agent it is easily plated onto aluminum. The piston wears away the nickel and then mates to the much harder silicon carbide  which is used as it is soluble with nickel. Aluminum liners are lighter and better conductors of heat than steels and as most instances the cylinder block is also aluminum the thermal expansion rates are the same so tolerances can be tighter. Plus Nickasil carries lubrication better. As for advantages in our model applications??? Nickasil was developed for ringed pistons where the rings are iron or steel. So no clue as to what the comparisons would be vs ABC. Nay not be the best match for an aluminum piston without ring.