Michael:
Fairfax County Va is the largest county in Northern Va, with a population in excess of 1 million ( as of the 2006 census) and all of Va at over 7 million. Our land records available date back to 1732 ( I think that is what the listing states) I can only assume that the examiners that are presently doing titles feel that they have it better, since none of them show up n the record rooms anymore. As for accuracy- that is all up to the examiner and how he or she uses what resources are available to them- since every index and all the books are there- all they need to do is perform the search as they did when they were standing in the record rooms. NOw as far as someone in India or Singapore or Oklahoma being able to do what I do, you are almost right- they don't have the years of experience I do using the record room I have- and all the title I have done in the counties I have worked in for all these years- try walking in to an unfamiliar clerk's office and do a title- hard to do, unless you work with the system. I have been here in Williamson County Tn for  a few months now- and subscribe to the local land records on line system- but would not ever try to provide a search on that limited time working with their system yet. I believe I have most of it, but need much more experience just working it before I can feel comfortable saying I have covered all the ground needed to be sure of a complete search. It is just like the original apprenticeship we all( we all used to , that is) go through before we are let loose to do one on our own.
The title companies can always push their agents to get the cheaper searches from where ever- but the people and settlement companies I work for would never short change their clients with that kind of irresponsible cheating of everyone's right to a complete and thorough title examination- that also happens to be completed in less time than it takes for the "overseas" contacts to wake up and see the order anyway- why would they want something that is of less quality, less accuracy and in a longer wait time to get it? The money is all paid by the client anyway- not the company, so the bottom line is not a bother- The extra money the title companies see as a difference between a "good" search and a cheap one is just gravy in their pockets-the customers never see the difference , until the claims come in, or the errors have to be fixed.
The entire on line system was financed through the fees we had to pay(for thesubscription) and what was termed as a "technology" fee that was tacked on to each recording- a fee of between $3-$5 over the years- and so it was the users and citizens that had documents recorded  that funded the entire project-each county has now even reduced their fees for the on line systems since they are now all pretty much paid for and running smoothly.
I do not have much experience with the "intra net" systems, but have noticed that the respective counties use that for internal data and communications, It does seem to be extremely limited and its use is restricted to very short ranges- how would that work for some one that lives 5 to 10 miles away from the court house ? I don't think it would- and that is why then internet seems to be to only logical system for now. By subscription and a secure system. I guess more research needs to be done for the answers that you ask for here, I have tried to cover as many as I could , without going over board and rambling for too long-
Have a good weekend, talk later ,
Steve Meinecke
Franklin, Tn