I understand the IP address being used as evidence to start an investigation and perhaps some surveillance but it seems way too flimsy to justify search and seizure. Is this sort of grasping at straws acceptable in other areas or is it just because of how computer illiterate the legal system is?
Police priorities tend to be whatever is easiest. IP addresses are easy, low hanging fruit. In the US, subscriber info is trivial to obtain with a subpoena - no warrant or bench judge needed.
My browser says I've visited this 2015 link before - which is probably true.