1. I did not have to resort to this in my case. but, I would have, if I were in this situation.
2. Stating a fact is not threatening, it is just stating a fact. Fact is same in US as it is in India.
When Indian consulate does not have any capability to produce OCI card here in US, nor has any control on picture; why wait for a month or two to acknowledge? and then take another month or two to process (read send across documents in electronic format to India)? When they can deposit money as soon as they receive application, wouldn't it make sense to check application for accuracy and start processing OCI application?
It may be eaiser for people living in Chicago to get pictures taken on Devon street as consulate has flier displayed in the consulate; it would make sense for them to identify similar facilities across the areas/states they serve.
Making a trip (distance does not matter) requires planning from individual perspective, and not everyone may have luxury of using one day just to get OCI; because someone in consulate is not doing what they are supposed to and paid for.
The least of service they can do would be to respond to requests for status; especially in situation like this where an applicant does not have any control.
Jingoism does not mean supporting whatever consulate want to do without reason. Always question process to improve, not just criticize (Kaizen?)
And by the way, consulate is not doing any favor nor charity; it's fee based service and they have requirement to provide basic customer service, regardless of number of applications they receive.