NH was virtually unknown before this PBP as it was so uncommon (1 in 1000-2000). That is not the case this time (>1 in 250 in 2019).
Having online tracking and interim results is very new. Most historical appeals and suchlike had been done behind closed doors. What is being asked, who is asking it and how they ask can make a big difference to resolving disputed PBP results.
Sometimes casting a veil over the process is better. In historical times, the accepted wisdom was that the PBP controllers would instantly pull a rider's brevet card at intermediate controls if the rider was too late to that control, unless there was an 'extremely good reason' (assisting at a rider's medical emergency). The riders understood this and worked hard to stay within the control times. Occasionally somebody would arrive a few minutes late to an intermediate control and the controller may have had a 'clock with sticky hands' but it wasn't obvious outside that moment. Now, with staggered starts and online tracking, it is obvious that many riders are checking in significantly late at controls, sometimes at multiple controls. Is that a better situation for PBP and its mystique? I don't think so, given the natural tendency for riders to keep pushing the boundaries.