Yeah its becoming a thing now on the internet and social media. Throwing out 16-24" like candy is essentially saying it snowed 1"/hr for 24 hours straight and while it does happen sometimes, there should be people drowning in snow at those amounts.
I mean 40" in 48 hours... I've measured that once here and if you get an honest 40" in 48 hours it is on a level that few can comprehend. It is almost paralyzing. It is not something that just gets tossed out there as a guess. Like cars should be completely gone in the parking lot at a 30-40" storm.
And you are right, it is definitely the numbers that get people. Everyone knows it's the most snow, but the number of people who I see posting online that have hit some variety of Bolton Valley, Stowe, Smuggs, and Jay this November... most are saying the amounts seem pretty similar. I'd give Jay about 30% more just based on upslope climo as it moves north. Just like the BV to Smuggs stretch usually sees about 30% more than Sugarbush/MRG.
Honestly I wouldn't be surprised if Bolton was sporting some of the most either given their location and high base elevation like Jay's.