In theory, if crimes exceed prosecutions, then number of convictions being closest to the number of prosecutions should indicate an effective use of resources. The real problem is that thorough investigations are rare for most crimes and it's just and industrial-scale process to show the elements of an offense were met by a preponderance of the evidence.

> ...any closer to solving these problems?

If "these problems" is the criminals getting away with their crimes? No.

Unfortunately, human nature is such that many peoples' actual priority is venting the intense angry they feel about the real-world crimes.

And for far too many people, harsh punishments inflicted on expendable whipping boys are an all-too-satisfying way of doing that.

Sure, but it feels like you're doing something helpful. It's like self-help books, or new years resolutions. The emotional fulfillment of feeling like you've done something is vastly more popular and marketable than doing the actual work.