Everyone decides from him/herself what is important, 1% or 98%.
Relative to preservation, the decision is about what is "significant"
about a property, how to describe its significance to all concerned, and
then how to build a sound case for preserving it and retaining its
integrity, and therefore its significance. You're right, we need to
build better tools for communicating, and not just be arguing from our
respective pedestals. Solitary helplessnes! It's not a cause, like
civil rights, but more an opportunity and a right, like education.
Enough maudlin'...
Ilene