Is it unusual for steps to be available early i.e. well before scheduled arrival time? If it is unusual, is there any point in being early? If being early is simply a result of ATC and tailwind happenstance, is there any point boasting about it until after a timely set of steps has been confirmed? And if the whole industry is going down the tubes, wouldn't the flight crew be aware that it's going down the tubes and adjust their boastfulness accordingly?