Yeah there is definitely that side too. I was just coming at it more from the standpoint of how the lack of large events stood out at that time. Perhaps using 1991 would be a better year after that dearth of large snowstorms. My coworker said in Woburn he went in between 1984-1992 without a storm more than 12". Only one storm in early Jan 87 gave 12" on the button. One came close in 1988. Still, think about that. We get those at least once a year now practically.
So when the T-blizz's of the world start to complain when we regress, one phrase should stick into their minds. We tried to tell them.