tedster - 11:17 am on Mar 20, 2012 (gmt 0)

Yes - the current level of Google webmaster communications is not doing so well. Extensive time delays, messages and headings that have changed from somewhat useful to Zen koans, questionable data and even the new language bug.

I assume that they are undergoing some kind of planned improvement and having some big struggles making it scale properly. Or maybe they really have lost touch with what a webmaster really needs.

On the good side, you did get a reply to your reconsideration request. From what I've seen, if they think you're a total spammer you don't hear a word.

In a situation like yours, I go for a third party data source on backlinks, and fire up the spreadsheets. There is usually a pattern of some kind that triggers this problem, not just a small handful.