About that graph from 1978 to 1999. Notice the gap between the old method and new method grows every year, basically doubling every 10. So a gap of 20 points in 1999 would become a gap of 40 points by 2009 and close to 50 by now. Basically, it is gradual negative compounding of the CPI, which was, IMO, the intention all along of the changes.
Agree. And certainly worthy of more study. The question is, is the divergence as large as the folks who want you to buy their newsletters (or sell you gold) claim?