There is a system in place for expedited service. There is a also a system in place to accommodate legit emergencies. Failure on the part of the State Dept. to perform properly doesn't change the point that lots of people create crises so they can do things they normally can't do. What portion of the people who were coming in at the last minute did it because of a State Dept problem, or their own failure to do things in a timely manner. I do agree, that if a person filed in a timely manner, has tracking info, and has not received their passport, they should be taken care of immediately. That does not justify claiming an emergency or time crisis just to avoid one's own responsibility. It is likely that most people would indeed consider that gaming a system.