OK. Lots of good discussion here. Online check-in was almost useless in this situation. However, on the same trip, I get to a Sheraton, where the inventory system was down, so they couldn't check anybody in until about 8pm. Obviously, when systems were up again, the lobby was a complete chaos with everybody who had tried to to check in starting at 2 pm. At that point, I checked in online instead aggravating myself in a line. Interestingly, my mobile card didn't arrive by the estimated time, so I texted the property via chat. Essentially, their argument was that they couldn't send me the mobile key, because they were busy checking in analogue individuals. On the one hand hilarious, but also indicative of the inventory system, POS, ERP and Online Check-in not being fully integrated.

good times