> Scott came up with a theoretical case of a game featuring an enemy group logo that looks similar to that of a real-life terrorist group. After an outcry, the developer issues an automatic patch to replace the original logo with something more benign. That would be a PR win in the present, but a major loss from a future historian's perspective.

There's little need to posit a theoretical. Look to Wolfenstein 3D, which had several changes. The Red Cross objected to the use of a red cross for the health packs, so later releases used a red heart. Germany objected to the use of Nazi symbols, the dogs replaced with giant rats, etc.

I can see how a future historian might use these as data points for a research project.