The DMV's service standards have improved dramatically in recent years, at least in my state. It's also important to note that the DMV is customer service, not customer acquisition. When compared to customer service from businesses, the DMV looks quite reasonable, and the service is getting better, whereas nearly every customer service experience I get from a business is getting worse.

Recent experience with the DMV in my state, was that to transfer my license and registration into that state (which is a customer acquisition problem, BTW) required me to book a month ahead of time in their online system, which even then resulted in me having to drive to an office that was the fourth-nearest to my residence.

So "YMMV".

I have literally never experienced anything that even approaches that level of nonsense in the private sector.

I take it you've never had a serious illness

> (which is a customer acquisition problem, BTW)

No it isn't. You already drive, have a car, and live in the state. What are they acquiring you to? They're just integrating you into their servicing platform. That's customer service.