I would imagine that a loss of 70% of the reporting stations reduces the large-number theory just a bit; still, any value-added adjustment depends on the value set of the adjuster.
Now that we clearly see that the fraternity of believers are nearly monolithic in that respect, how does that affect your confidence in them?
This is too big to hide; either they start over or they back off and regroup.
Similarly, I think it is time for you to quit hiding behind the shield of authority and look at the whole scheme chronologically.
Science has become addicted to catastrophe as a discipline; where’s the benefit in that?
http://chiefio.wordpress.com/2009/11/17/gistemp-ushcn-v2-and-the-filter-q-continuum/
Read his comments and agree/disagree before you appeal to the authority of classic statistics, please.