In what way is this not data? Are you saying that because they didn't show you the data that it doesn't count?

Alternatively, is it possible that this is an instance where your local experience doesn't generalize.

Imagine replying to a post based on a huge dataset, saying it's "not really data", then countering with an opinion based on a personal anecdote.

Now imagine that the originator of the aforementioned "not really data" came to this very thread to admit that the proposed correlation disappeared once the dataset became more "huge" (c.f. Norvig's actual comment)