I agree that it's getting protracted, but at least part of that is because some POH's are remarkably silent on the issue. The PA-28-161 POH for instance says to prime if the engine won't start, but makes no reference as to how, or how much, to prime.
As I said earlier, I'm convinced that much of this problem stems from 'difficult' engines that engineers and / or owners fail to rectify. In practice in most cases the underlying machinery is capable of satisfactory starting without extremes of cranking and priming. It is the same owners who will end up paying for new starter motors or much worse and I suggest that it is short sighted not to deal with these issues when they arise.