If it takes 1-2 weeks, it has some merits. Instant sign up might be important for making ad-hoc anonymous accounts to spam etc. (possible to create alt account on steem too, but not on a whim or paid). Second important thing is that valuable voice we can expect from members that have some knowledge about ecosystem, so instant sing up is not important.

The root problem here is almost no governance rules for the project and little will to create such rules or to set them up in motion.