If you have a question related to a certain country, it might be better to contact the referees directly (surely a better way in my case) than posting it here, as the referee might not check this thread every day...
You're right a lot of referees are inactive, so it might be not a generally good solution.
It surely works in my case (Hungary, Hungarian and Austrian States, Ottoman Empire.)
Yeah, I always go for the easier route which is to contact the referee but If I can't get anywhere I will hope for anyone. Like I said, you probably have seen I offered to referee the uk and her colonies & commonwealth a series I am pretty knowledgable and enjoy but was totally ignored.
I wouldn't do it now but I think referees not only need to be able to do the job but need "people skills"