I'm just thinking back to the process we went through in late 2004/early 2005. You rang up for an appointment giving just the names, dates of births, passport numbers and I think names of parents of the both of you. I guess the embassy went away and did their external checks. Then on the day of the appointment the ECO checked the application form and evidence we provided (it was the first time they saw it), interviewed my wife, and told her she was successful all within a couple of hours. We went back later that day to pick up her passport with the visa.
You've got to wonder why they can take so long if they could process the actual application itself on the same day back then unless the external checks take a long while or they are so busy.
