The difference between a confirmed funnel and a confirmed tornado should be negligible from a public safety standpoint. Insert voluminous info about not all tornadoes having complete condensation funnels, etc, etc. I wouldn't really call that a "false report". An example of a false report would have been to have reported that there was no funnel at all or that a wedge had just destroyed Amarillo.
FWIW, most homeowners do not listen to spotter HAM nets or monitor Spotter Network. If the sirens blare or a tornado warning comes up on the boob tube, they either go out on the porch and look for the tornado or head for shelter. Here in Nebraska it's usually the former. I've yet to meet anyone who's reaction to a tornado siren is to fire up SN to verify that it's on the ground. "Oh, nevermind honey -- go back to cooking the steaks, GRLevel 3 only shows a 60 knot gate to gate and Tim Vasquez's only got it three fourths of the way to the ground. I'll be out back, fixing the tractor." I've also never heard of anyone who thought that a tornado was bearing down on them in the next two minutes take the time to run around the house gathering the family heirlooms, but who knows.