First, I agree. I'm on the same page as all of you. My file is standing on 18 month mark. My wife gave up going to school this year since she doesn't get PR yet.
I know media tried to cover this, but it's not "fruity" in their favor. I've been told from a news writer/reporter who investigated this issue, and he said nothing special. Metric indicates Dec-Jan-Feb applicants every year has the same issue. This is due to the provincial govn't throwing out left over nomination at the year end. Thus, Dec-Feb has significantly higher number of application, and of course much more troubles, like delay, higher number of stalled applications. Plus, most of Jan applications have been processed in normal manner. Delay is more likely personal and case-by-case.
The media also looked into "paper-based" process, but they knew that EE doesn't affect the process delay. EE and PNP are processed in totally different facilities.
Media may want more dramatic story... such as, refugees in a certain period who are neglected for couple years due to the process change. Old-old family sponsorship process which had taken about two to three years to be processed. In the perspective of media, our problem may not look "tasty..."