Damn, did I misspell that? No posting on FR before coffee. You’d think I would have learned that by now!
Your point about the value of the census to amateur historians is the important thing. To be able to piece together a picture of your ancestors’ lives is a fabulous thing. When many FReepers’ descendants find out, after waiting with much anticipation for 2010 data to be released, that their great-grandparents were members of the human race, at least they will be able to deduce somethings about their political leanings.