While such delay is frustrating, do bear in mind that these "inefficient" people are entirely unpaid volunteers doing this on their own time and at their own ex

While such delay is frustrating, do bear in mind that these "inefficient" people are entirely unpaid volunteers doing this on their own time and at their own expense. Which is not to say that the process could not be improved, of course. They did introduce the "maintainer" status, which makes it simpler to get some level of privileges, which removed some of the blockers.