I think I knew this deep down, but I am curious if there's "extinct (with the usual disclaimers)" and "extinct (it ain't comin back)". i.e. the Christmas Island Shrew vs. the Dodo
Which is to say, the certainty of the Dodo's extinction is related to how long we've not seen one.
Every year that passes then without the shrew will be to underscore its extinction, I suppose. Sad.