Its obvious that ACARS maintenance messages are not to be dealt with by the base station in real time, since the're aimed at informing maintenance with a view to future deployability of company aircraft in general.
However, ACARS is also used, mainly by long distance operators, to exchange the latest info on weather along long distance routes.
Failing of publishing this type of info for the AF447 flght keeps a cloud over issues relevant in this cae, period.