You have it so right with the deceptive ease of research on the internet. The previous ways of researching, through original sources, and books and footnotes written from original sources was more accurate — publishing companies and editors were tasked on pain of legal recourse and unemployment to be accurate — so it one sense it was easier to find factual information. On the other, it required travel as a minimum, or cost, or both.

Being able to discern authenticity from a good patter is an increasingly rare gift. Sharing it with others is something I’d consider a public service — thank you for writing and sharing!