(holding the title I presume)Inputs are appreciated!

Here in Jacksonville, FL, our local clerk uses the RealForeClose product from Realauction.com, if yours does, I presume this is pretty similar.

Presumably you purchased this list using a credit card.

In one I did not buy, there was a bronze colored metal plaque in some concrete in the yard, with a name and some numbers on it; some sort of memorial I presumed ...

Gary Schmalz, A person shall be presumed to be engaged in the business of selling RE if the person engages as principal in [b]five or more transactions during any a 12-month period unless the person is represented by a licensed RE broker or salesperson.You can get dealers license and pay the state a fee to get around it.

Is this a worthwhile endeavor given that the number of recipients is presumably much smaller.

Too many people forget these when trying to acquire a property (or anything else, for that matter).Since you don't tell us what state this property is located, nor does the attorney cite any code, I will presume that he is merely talking with a bias toward the seller's interests and not really providing you anything useful.

When you patronize advertisers' sites and fo business with, BP presumably receives some degree of lead generation credit. 

What lender in their right mind would want ANOTHER foreclosure in today's market, especially when the mortgage is actually being paid (presumably your circumstance), notwithstanding transfer of deed?

In theory you are talking to lenders referred to you by trusted sources, and presumably these folks are lenders only and not investors/buyers, so they play a different game than you do.