The nfa process is far too antiquated and convoluted to be honest.
Back in 1934 when the law was written (National Firearms Act), it was high tech. Learning that everyone has different fingerprints was revolutionary. And requiring everyone to go to the police station was simply the best option at the time since the police typically knew who their local troublemakers were.
But now with everyone having a unique social security number and high speed internet with huge gov't databases where you can find out if someone has a criminal record in mere seconds, there is really no reason why the nfa process has to take 9-12 months, but until someone changes the law and makes it so background checks can be made as simply as a NICS check, we're going to be stuck with it.
And sadly, if someone were to try to rewrite the law to streamline it, and if an anti were to make amendments to it (like a much higher tax rate) or remove the passing the weapon along to a lawful heir for example, with as incompetent as our elected leaders are, could reek havoc on the system, so sometimes it's better to just let sleeping dogs lie.