We occasionally have to deal with the American consulate in Frankfurt to renew the kids' passports (wife is American and kids are dual citizens) and it surely is a pain:
- it can only be done in person and both parents have to be present
This is true for every child's passport including those done in the US. It is to prevent children from being kidnapped and taken out of the country by one parent
- one has to make an appointment weeks in advance
Right now I see 5 passport slots available tomorrow in Frankfurt and no less than 20 for every single day next week
- despite the appointment, one has to wait an hour in line just to go through security
Security does suck, there is no way around it, but US Embassy's regularly get attacked. You can read this link for more details. Yes lots of it are in middle eastern countries, but for example, the US Ambassador in Seoul was knifed this year. If I bring my car on to the Embassy I work at, I have to undergo about a 5 minutes screening process for the car.
- while waiting in line, one has to listen to condescending comments from the staff
That shouldn't happen. If it does I encourage you to tell someone.
- It's not allowed wo bring any electronic devices into the building, if on forgets a phone in a bag or a pocket, it's back to the car and then back to the end of the line
This is true of everyone who does not work at the Embassy or does not have a security clearance. The rules applies to lots of US government employees, it applies to CEOs of multi billion dollar companies, it is a security issue. I don't know about Frankfurt, but I know the embassies I have worked in inform everyone of this as part of the confirmation after an appointment is made.
- they will only mail the passport if provided with a special DHL envelope, without that, it's back outside to the nearest DHL office and then back to the end of the line
I do think we tend to be a bit inflexible, but I don't think anymore inflexible then any other large organization (insurance companies, etc) There probably is a reason for this, but I don't know it.
- one has to fill out complicated forms, sign them and then swear that everything is filled out correctly
Again it is the exact same form that everyone fills out for passports for children under 16. I am a bureaucrat, so I deal with forms fine, but I don't see anything on the DS-11 that is complicated. Name, identifying details, contact information, and the same for the parents. You can even do an online passport wizard to complete the form so you don't have to write anymore on the forms.
- on then gets a receipt with which one has to get into another line to pay the fee and to get the receipt stamped
- with the stamped receipt, on has to get into a final line to hand it back in.
Luckily, we only have to deal with it only every two or three years.