This is pretty accurate. There are a couple more interesting elements to it as well (at least in the security clearance side of things, and not "criminal proceedings" side):

1. there is a lot of stress around the fact that if you don't pass the poly, you don't have a clearance and so you don't have a career

2. you will "fail" at least one poly in each cycle so the stakes are raised in subsequent interviews RE: #1