I think it can be a case of simply finding the right way to deal with officialdom.
I do think it also helps if they have family that have travelled abroad and complied with the requirements help.
But as Joe mentions its a constant tightrope walk as a single wrong word or statement or at least the way the ECO understands it could mean the house of cards collapses.
Friends of the Wifes some have all the luck and yet seem to take little notice of the do's and don'ts so very very hard to figure out why
It could be like Sportspeople find and people in pressurised situations where they dont have time to think or worry they somehow mange to perform above and beyond what they can when they have time to think about it.
