The difference with David's approach is that a story was told and map was found, that had critical numbers and letters on it that appear to perfectly match AE's aircraft, and after a very short process of elimination, the link to AE's aircraft was found. You could never fake those numbers and letters with accuracy unless you had an incredible level of inside knowledge. The fact that the resting place is likely within the aircraft's range, is also a logical place for the aircraft to be found and witness descriptions of an aircraft type are incredible.
The other mob are the opposite, they are looking for an aircraft and visiting places in order to try and find it!