Hi Bones
If we did all our research via snippets of family information, there would be the continuation of the myths generated through many years, by families telling stories to cover the truth, or because they do not know the truth. I have so much evidence of this, both from my own family members - in Canada, the US, England, Scotland, NZ, SA and even Germany - almost forgetting Australia - and from the many researchers on RootsChat.
Keep searching for primary sources - especially in the days of civil registration. Back beyond the 19th century, such sources may be more difficult to come by and items such as family bibles and diaries come into their own, but check those family stories - they are sometimes more fiction than fact.
Extracted records on the IGI are a very good source of information - especially as they are available at no charge. If you live near an LDS family centre you can order the films of the parish records from which these indexes were made and see a copy of (in many cases) the original church records. Some civil records (1855-1875) from Scotland have also been indexed on the IGI. We do have to remember, however, that the IGI is an index, created by LDS members. Transcription errors can occur and looking for further verification of events is always a good idea.
Submitted records on the IGI are only as good as the researcher's sources and we really have no idea about that, when accessing the IGI. I put them into the same class as unsubstantiated family stories, or any listing or statement of an event
where a source is not given. Further investigation is needed.
For those who wish to pay for the ease of accessing similar information at home

ScotlandsPeople has images of parish records (from the Church of Scotland) for births/marriages online.
One advantage of seeing the complete parish images from the LDS (apart from cost

is that burials (if recorded) are included on the film. These have not been indexed by the LDS or by SP.
Trish
To respond to the last post from Tom
Family stories and knowledge are the "meat on the bones" They turn the facts into a family story, rather than a genealogical diagram. It is somewhat pointless, to have the meat, without any bones. How many times have folks spent years tracing the wrong family

There are countless discussions of these issues on roots chat.
None of this discussion solves the dilema that is a missing marriage record

so I will attempt to stay on the subject and not be sidelined by conversations on other issues including the WESTWATER's whoever they may be.