Vick, I think you're thinking of me... Yep, the person on the gov't end of the phone started out with a pissy attitude, was giving the dealer a hard time, then denied me. and took 20 minutes to do it.
I did NOT however appeal the denial - I immediately went to the call center (I found out it was local) and raised hell with a supervisor. The supervisor looked into it, reversed the denial, gave the person an attitude adjustment and told me to go back to the show 'here's their direct line' and have the dealer re-run the check. Immediately when the dealer got on the phone he looks up at me amazed "it's like a whole different person now!" polite, quick, and efficient.
I too often get delayed though. Too many people with very similar names in my area (5, only one isn't family, and he's got a history) I was delayed for the Mosin, the next week I wasn't, the next purchase they started with "further review" and cleared it before ending the call, this week delayed again... It's so aggravating!