The entire little transmitter board/receiver allows me to make sure that the AC fan conversion I did to my Davis station is always running, and I don't get increased temperatures from stagnant air readings should it fail and I don't notice it for awhile. It also tells me how hot the enclosure is getting so I can monitor it for electronics health, and also tells me the Supercap charge (not used when it is on AC power) if the AC power ever fails. It will also tell me when the enclosure cooling fans are running (it gets up to 120 degrees here in the summer), and in the Winter time I have the fan speed automatically reduce at night to save power, which is also indicated.
I had to make a compromise with the rain gauge. We don't get alot of rain here, and I've found the Davis gauge actually either matches, or is within 0.01 of the CoCoRAHS gauge I have there, and I am also usually identical or within 0.01 of neighboring stations a few blocks away. It has a pretty unobstructed view of the sky, granted I do see what you are referring to and the CWOP manual states, but again compromises of too high vs too low and what else is on the pole
That's why I offset it out from the pole as well. We also have sprinklers so I have to avoid it being too low and catching the sprinklers LOL
