i am one of many who have gone without appointment
they just categorize you differently when you are there
odd there seems to be more discussion on yelp than FT

appointments are obviously not possible for immediate travel, and the last time i went with an appointment, it was 9 days out, when travel has to be within 14 days

some of us would rather go to agency than pay 3rd party. i never understand why government does not sell expedited (like overnight) directly rather than allowing 3rd parties to do it.