then I postulate that the expectations of those doing the expecting were unrealistic in the first place! Stupid statement.
No they don't. (take longer). They take EXACTLY as long as should be expected, providing the person(s) doing the expecting have a handle on the actual time "things" take.
I take extreme exception in exaggerated expectation. Exasperating when expectation exceeds estimates. Except for those who excel in expanding expenses, we should all expect better. (Explicit expletive). Except in extreme and extenuating circumstance, we should expect no extension. If there is extra or extraneous work required and we extract value, which exceeds what we expect, then I could except that. Otherwise exclude excuses and exaggerations, exclaim the expected time required, and execute the expectation. Many simply want to be extricated and exit this excruciating exercise and exorbitant experiment before we explode. Experts? I simply can not extend explanation for the extraneous expansion of these expectations.