While PDF format might find the word “Appaloosa”, it also might not. PDF format is positional and it might decide to put “App” in one place and “aloosa” in another. The format is great for printing, but that’s as far as it goes. I don’t want to print, and I don’t want to look at a print format. I want the data! Then I can put that data, very efficiently, where I need it, and can find it. I can format it any way I want, analyze it with my own software, and not have to dig through 42 pages ^ to find what I want. So as not to derail this thread, I created another one [Machine readable statements: an investor's right? - #2 by ochotona].
^ Not an exaggeration. Mine plus my wife’s Fidelity statements are that many pages. IRA’s, HSA’s, Roth’s and taxable, it’s over the top. I don’t want or need 95% of what they print. I want the beginning and ending balances, and transactions that affect the balance. The rest is fluff.