This is so true. It has been a number of years since I worked with either agency doing computer forensic work, but my experience was pretty much the exact same.

This is so true. It has been a number of years since I worked with either agency doing computer forensic work, but my experience was pretty much the exact same. While SS consistently made a concerted effort to investigate crimes and build a solid case, FBI seemed often to be interested primarily in raising the public profile of the cases they worked on to get more visibility in the press, often at the expense of (what appeared to me at least) due process. Whereas SS had a number of excellent specialists who understood acquisition, the FBI seemed to be wearing clown-shoes most of the time. I'm not surprised at all that they botched this case so badly. It's clear as day that Apple is on the right side of this argument. It's not their job to bail out the FBI for yet another colossal screwup. Especially not when it damages their product so severely.