So I'm not the only one who has this experience. One other point I can't get over is that time and time again, MPC hotline will take my instructions, determine whether it is possible to follow or not, give me all the information I request, and then right before executing the instructions will ask me to verify my identity.

This is the most crazy system ever. It is like calling a bank and asking to know someone's account balance, they give you the info, you ask if it is possible to do XYZ, they say yes, no problem, and only then they ask for verification.

If they're going to verify ID, that should be the first thing they do and not the last thing!