"Then Apple could explore its records, query the original owner if it wants, but then at the end of the day if there are no red flags and the original owner doe

"Then Apple could explore its records, query the original owner if it wants, but then at the end of the day if there are no red flags and the original owner does not protest within 30 days, the device should be auto-unlocked." As long as the machine is guaranteed to be wiped as part of the process, this is not a bad idea at all.