I agree - I find the constant need for follow up annoying. Especially when they say wait 2 weeks because then you have to remember to chase them down after 2 weeks and sometimes even a further 2 weeks. I would say about 50% of my purchases autoposted to Ebates after 48hrs, but a good portion I have to follow up. Of those about 80% do eventually go thorugh.
It turned me off too, but in some cases ebates is significantly higher - for exaple this week it's 12% for some retailers. I made a $250 puchase from art.com as a result, and guess what, it hasn't posted. Hoping it's only bc it hasn't shipped/charged my account yet, but doubt it.