Then I would suggest that once a decision is made, to inform those affected by the decision in an effective manner, rather than through simple heresay, different CIC's, and concierges.
In addition, as AW said, AP knew pkgs were late, therefore people wouldn't have the correct certs to use starting March 1. So they should've "made the decision" ahead of time, since they knew the packages were late.
Unless, they didn't know the packages were going to be late until February 27 or February 28 even though nobody had processed or mailed them yet? I don't remember ever getting any priority courier from AP
Perhaps some lightbulb went off at AP and some brilliant executive said "Gee, these packages are going to be late and many will not be able to upgrade... gee.. what do we do? what do we do? I know, let's sit around, get fat, lazy, fart around for a few days before we figure something... I'll pick my bum and eat the findings... let's wait a few more days coz I sure have no idea what to do... oh wait! silly me! Why don't we extend the expiry date of the 2004 certs to March 15 and inform our valued AP members by proxy? You know, through concierges, random CIC's, ignorant agents... it'll be fun, kinda like playing telephone with your friends and hoping something twisted and warped comes out the other end?"