Ghost update could be automatic update too. Maybe not be a manual update. He did upfront medical. I don't know about other offices. But in Sydney, they do batch processing. I am talking about generics application sitting in Sydney office, ( not the ones adding members in the middle of PROGRESS, it will push their application further, application transferred to other offices,...etc )
FEB/ MAR 2019 AOR ppl -- waiting for CORP or PPR
JUN / JUL 2019 AOR ppl -- waiting for MR
Many in 2020 -- waiting for AOR
Once they started giving updates on above in Sydney, We can assume they started working on paper based applications.
Doing upfront medical won't speed up your application at all, will give inpatient applicants peace of mind that Oh i completed Medical. Indeed, most of them worry every day about their medical pass after doing the upfront medical, spending $$$$$. Who knows they may change the policy that people already in Canada don't need medical at all or recently arrived.
Even if you did Medical, You are going to still get struck in Security Check that won't be initiated till the time flies. it is all in their hand and when to initiate it.
They in Sydney don't pick applications for PPR based on their completeness and all controls is in their hand., no matter how many times you call them or request GCMS notes, it only annoys them until your deadline exceeds.
it is a batch processing and FCFS ( first come first served ) in Sydney. Only time , your application will get delayed if you don't provide what they ask on time or before deadline.