First I've heard of the Metropolitan Sepulchre. I very much enjoyed the link.

    Shouldn't that be a matter of documentation 
    in the first place instead of just keeping 
    structures indefinitely?

There has to balance between razing the ruins of Pompeii, and turning every modern strip mall into a heritage site. Where that balance ought to be is beyond me. Who knows what will interest future generations?

    we have books for that.

I don't know if books are a satisfying substitute. Down the road, when VR is higher quality, that would probably suffice.