To be clear, American Express has not gotten me a replacement card. I've explicitly told them at every opportunity when I was returning home. The replacement card that's been issued is somewhere with DHL in Canada now.

As for your surprise, I guess you don't know how those things work? It's a pretty well spelled out benefit by Visa/Mastercard/Discover. Anecdotal evidence would suggest that at worst it might take a few weeks and at best you could get a new card in a few days. Better to under promise and over deliver.

http://thebillfold.com/2012/07/what-...-money-abroad/

Hopefully American Express' other services are more reliable than their card replacement department.