Nice to here the OP got his rifle in time, but I have to believe this Internet pressure might have had something to do with it.
I'm sure the smith wanted to get it done and be done with this customer.
On a personal note, I will not be so easily sucked in to a thread like this in the future.
I doubt the IP pressure had anything to do with it but who cares. I know for a fact that he could have shuffled things and got it done a week early but why?
I'm not buying your sucked in perspective. You know you loved every minute and every laugh.