I agree with everything you say AC*SE, but in business, we often get only a day or two notice for our trips. So I have a lot of experience in getting last minute visas for places such as Brazil, China, Saudi Arabia, etc. I'm always very pleasant but insistent. I always have all the required documentation. I always ask if there is ANYTHING I can do to get visa in time for my trip. At the Brasilian consulate I also had some cash held in my hand though not too suggestively. That was all it took.