Dear Felix, X-Air, and
Found this link, Edouard and they make no accuracy guarantee above a rainfall rate of four inches/hour.
Hmm, interesting! The same document gives the same absolute limits. Sure looks to me like Davis is trying to have it both ways.
What sort of rainfall rates was your station reporting at the time? Were you significantly above 4"/hr?
Highly recommend the new and improved model. You might ask for "upgrade pricing" and a loyalty discount! I'm bettin' you can arrange a "deal" for less than $50!
It does look nice. However, my rain gauge has relatively few things getting into it because it is on a second story with not much in the way of trees nearby. However, if I have to buy some other part for my station, I'll probably buy it then. I do like the improved collector cone design, but that would prevent me putting a cap on the rain gauge during the summer. Having a cap on it seems to solve most of my bird problems since they have nothing to land on.
Cheers, Edouard