Valid points, but as a counter-point, anything that goes across the web, whether through an anonymous proxy server, via email or otherwise can be intercepted by someone with the right software, and quite easily.  Further, going to the recorders office can expose you to anyone looking over your shoulder and noting your busiuness (cameras from a distance have the resolution to watch you easily from an aisle or two away, too).

This is why it is important online to use pop-up blockers, block cookies, and clean you cache upon exit (Firefox is a great browser for doing thiings like this automatically, but it does not work well with every web page).

A solid assessment by your research staff of the payoff vs liability is in order.  This should include their managers or supervisors at each decision making point.  In most cases, when there are many documents that need to be pulled  (we had about 200 docs needing to be imaged), and when the client wants it sooner rather than later, you'll realize that the cost of a plane tix to the next state is an unreasonable expense, and bow to the efficiency of a technique such as this. 

I too am reluctant when it comes to celebs, but those are a  minority of the populace and less likely to be readily encountered in the day-to-day searches.