Are all of these NOS tube inventories real? How have we not consumed them already?

midareff1

... a decade ago a dealer told me NOS was anything that still tested OK, and NIB was anything that tested OK in any box.

NOS = New Old Stock
NIB = New In Box
Used ≠ New Old Stock
Used ≠ New In Box

To write off someone like Brent who's been at this longer than most and is honest as the day is long because one dealer told you something tells me a lot. Just like one can print anything about anything is like anyone can post anything about almost anything. 

Have you ever dealt with the guy?

All the best,
Nonoise

You really just have to do your homework with vintage valves or NOS. 
You need to know what labels, plates, and getter constructions look like, and be able to look up valid date codes. 
The vacuum tube industry was just as incestuous and precarious as the record pressing industry. Many brand name tubes were assembled at other tube companies factories and the tooling changed hands as well. There’s a lot to know. 
Often, someone like Andy at VTS is one who could tell you what’s what. Fore mentioned Kevin from Upscale and Brent Jessee are all good resources, but you pay for what you get. Many other folks are just talking out of their arses. Parroting what someone else has said on the internets. Crazy. 
If high quality signal tubes last 5-10k hours, it’s not much of an argument that they are a value even at several hundred dollars apiece if you find the right tubes, in the right condition, for the right circuit! But now, or cry later. 

If you see a dealer that has a bunch of "new old stock in white boxes" you should be wary. Especially if these NOS are not military (JAN) tubes. A box doesnt prove that the tube is NOS, but the lack of an original box usually is very telling. 

"new old stock in white boxes" you should be wary. Especially if these NOS are not military (JAN) tubes. A box doesnt prove that the tube is NOS, but the lack of an original box usually is very telling.

I find this to be true, of all the tubes I have purchased the only one that failed was one that didn't have an original box.