Re: Surplus 175 FMJ
No, the 'good ones' were definitely accurate enough, but they have disappeared from the market by and large. What's left is the later stuff, which can be less consistent (or not, if there's a date, look for pre 1970, and that date's just a SWAG on my part). I think that unless you're shooting beyond 500yd, or in a hypercritical match situation, the LC 175's are adequate at the very least.
As for the post count, it's just a product of longevity; I've been here since the beginning.
Greg