> 538 and other sites that just do stats can easily just have a giant number database that output correlations for click's sake.

Ahh, there you see the problem! you can also output all harry potter novels from digits of pi, but that doesn't get anyone anywhere. : ) The entire point of a good content producer is to understand what the customer needs, and put it out, NOW. So I'd imagine 538 will be automated about when computers start writing Harry Potter equivalents.