Went in in person to CKGS NY today. Place is still a mess, systems are not working. Clearly they're not ready for prime time.
My mailed in tourist visa app arrived on Tuesday of this week and by today it is just finished being processed to go to consulate. I guess that's how long it usually take for this part of the process. I don't know the rest of the process as I pulled my app due to urgent traveling plan. Will probably resume the process in a month when I won't need to use my passport for a while. Then I can post my full experience with CKGS.