Clouds can look the same for days when the weather pattern is stuck, that's just how it goes. A weird cloud over the same mountains isn't really proof of anything except that the wind isn't changing much. Probably not worth losing sleep over unless something else strange is going on too.

My buddy Dave in Boulder did the same thing with his 24-70, wiped the front element every single shoot for like 3 years. Pulled it out last month and you could see swirl marks in the coating under a light. He switched to a blower and a brush only now.

The thing your uncle doesn't get is that those files don't need anyone's permission to exist, and that's the whole point. Flash modding a 5th gen is hit or miss because some of those cheap red CF adapters don't handle the power draw right, so try a different brand or reseat the ribbon cable. Keep the shoebox, and maybe add a FireWire charger to the pile since those old drives need the extra juice to spin up.