[Peter Cornwell]

Originally Posted by uckwash

I could not concur, that local Knowledge was of little use ...

I made no such statement. Local knowledge has its place but always needs to be weighed most carefully against all other evidence. Contributors to this thread have already commented on the fallibility of memory. Also, at this distance in time from the actual events, it becomes increasingly unlikely that any local knowledge is even first-hand.

Originally Posted by uckwash

But just because my seniors had to do things the hard way doesn't in my mind mean that one should now unnecessarily endure the same degrees of difficulties in doing so.

Not at all - only if you want to achieve similar results. There is no dispute that the advent of technology has made research infinitely more convenient and abundant information easily accessible. But I'm afraid that this makes my earlier comments to you on sources (Post #13) all the more relevant. There is no material difference in dubious information culled from internet sources and that gathered from unreliable books – which is where we came in, I believe.