Meta data does not mean 'lesser data'. Meta data could paint a very clear picture.

Indeed - what's funny (or would be funny if it wasn't so depressing) is how the NSA spokespeople try to spin it as such.

"Oh, we're not monitoring your calls, that would be bad! Just simple meta-data, nothing to worry about at all..."

"Metadata -- It's so vague that we're not actually invading your privacy, while being so revealing that we could murder you because of what we saw."