Thank you for opening up this great debate! My seven years in grad school were at least four years longer than necessary and became more emotionally distressful as I moved through the process. The 'mind games' began when professors would limit admissions to gateway programs. I left the Ed Psych program after watching other grad students get pummeled in an endless barrage of requirements and useless information. We called it the 'indentured servitude program' since no one got out before seven years, you couldn't work for real money and the University paid $600.00 month to its TA's. After finally getting my Chair to agree to a topic (a mere three years and countless possibilities), another professor refused the methodology, and later canceled my defense three days prior to its scheduled date. It took years and lots of support to overcome the anger and frustration. The worst thing is that it has nothing to do with scholarship and everything about power! These are not people who should have power over others' lives, minds, or souls! All graduate students should have ombudsmen available to them: persons who are neutral and can facilitate the dissertation completion process making certain that the 1) rules are explicit and 2) everyone plays by the rules: Especially those on your committee!
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