Agreed. We hear about how Feb is the best climo month for snow. While that's true, it's reliant upon things that don't really seem to happen anymore or things that seldom seem to happen anymore. It's the same concept to me as using analogs from the 1800s. I am not sure if older, historical precedents matter, because I'm not sure the same forcing factors work the same way today.
Is it a coincidence that whether it's ENSO + or -, QBO + or -, AAM + or -, MT + or -, Solar + or -, none of it results in blocking anymore? I don't think so.
I propose one index to rule the other indexes, +BARF and -BARF. That would would never fail except for Neutral BARF which would just lead to Acid Reflux.