In my former home county the system that is online is the same system at the court house, it is just a little slower because you are not "right there".  I would search from home and then run down to the county to check Fed tax Liens (the only thing not up to date on the computers) And I'd be done. It was a small county so the effective date was that day, no problem.

I think the question we need to ask our selves is why do those of us that have a problem with counties going on line really have a problem with it.  During the industrial revolution many workers saw their livelihood threatened by automation and were against it, but I know for sure that it is better that my laptop was made my a machine; for price and product quality. 

The plant where my wife and I met is now out of business because CRT TV technology is a thing of the past.  My wife is now a Nurse (she loves it) and I love my new LCD TV.

Progress happens, good or bad, it's going to happen and in our life time.  I think we as abstractors should be more concerned with trying to help steer this in the right direction.  Like impressing on counties that the service should be a sign up service and maybe you should have to prove your a US citizen or something.

I don't have all the answers, but I do know it will happen, abstractors need to be a part of it so our interest are protected.  Fighting it may delay it, but being a part of it will turn a disadvantage into knowing how the new systems work and having a hand in the direction the new system will end up going in.