Diane,   Sounds like you want  "something for nothing".   Ie :   your statement:

"Not a bad idea as long as it doesn't push up the cost of the search."
Just WHO is to pay the $ 1 per page ?   Yes,  I know, the abstractor.

Another way for the squeeze to be put on the abstractor.   You get the papers and

the abstractor sees their fees being squeezed, (profit going down) for the

benefit of the person ordering the search.   So now that $ 150 search fee

becomes $ 150 LESS   10-16 dollars for the mtg copy supplied to you for

FREE.   Dream on,   let one of the newbees do that 60 year search for you.

George