First, the San Bernadino shooters destroyed a lot of other computers/phones/disks - yet they left that iPhone unscathed (http://abcnews.go.com/US/san-bernardino-shooters-destroy-pho...). It was also a phone provided by Farook's employer. Unless Farook was a big dope, he used it for work stuff only. Since nobody got wind of the crimes before they happened, Farook was evidently Not a Dope. Third, the FBI has had access to iCloud backups from that device (http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-tn-apple-fbi-call-2016...), apparently the iCloud password was changed as part of accessing the backup data. The changed iCloud password is what caused the FBI to not be able to access the phone directly.

So, I think we can be reasonably sure that no info of value will come off that phone. It's possible, but it seems unlikely.

So are you arguing that the police should not explore all reasonable sources of information when investigating a crime?

You know, just sample a few and then if nothing comes up, just infer that everything is kosher?

Dude... you were the one that asked "How so?" in response to a statement that nothing of value would be recovered from the iPhone that the FBI was using as a means of creating a precedent. I gave you the "how so" reasons, I didn't say anything about not exploring reasonable sources of information. If FBI investigative time is a scarce resource, I would expect them to prioritize the sources of information, putting "less likely to yeild results" lower in the prioritized list. I would also expect them to stop investigating the material way down on the priority list if the material high on the priority list had yielded results.

Dude. Clearly you have insights into this investigation that neither I, any media outlet or even in fact the FBI even has. So in that case, congrats, you win.