Lurker here! Hello.
If a user thinks even the difference between 500k fudged and 750k fudged is too much then yes it makes sense that they would also think that fudging over a million is not believable. The internal logic is definitely there. I usually lurk on here in silence and read through the tracking and weekend/weekday threads. I'm not a tracking expert by any means I just really like seeing the process. I just wanted to share from a slightly outside perspective.
The 43.5 numbers, if accurate, will equalize eventually. The source is usually accurate and trustworthy. I just hope that happens soon and not with a Sony retraction 6 months from now so we can just wrap this up. And if evidence of the equalizing is posted and if it's not accepted just because of being a fan of the movie, then that can definitely be called out. Just wanted to give my 2 cents. I'm gonna disappear again now. Sorry if this felt intrusive!