Jeez!
Completely agree, T28B. Before the first boat put oars in the water on this search, I said that the whole thing smelled like a boondoggle. The search area(s) was/were determined using some imprecise science and educated guesses, with more exact scientific methods and equipment used toward the final phase of each search "episode".
This is completely bassackwards. Logic says that you use precise, known, and reliable methods at the beginning (of a search process, logic process, problem solving process, whatever), and you "guess" or "reckon" toward the end of each process, having narrowed the field of possible outcomes.
FWIW, send everybody home for the holidays, and tell 'em not to come back. My respects to all the searchers and the families of the missing.