So far the search has been heavily concentrated along the planned course from the LKP. There has so far been a small minority of search in the area suggested by mm43. The same search effort along the accident track and possible impact site derived from mm43's work may have been more fruitful, but it's the holders of the megabucks who approve the search plan.
Passing the hat in PPRune likely would not pay for so much as a minute of sea time