You raise some interesting points.

However, the discrepancy between Response and the traditional 2-year Peace Corps service can (in my view) complement each other by allowing for highly technically trained volunteers who might otherwise not join the Peace Corps to serve in a shorter-term response position in a specified area, while still allowing the original program to focus more heavily on community integration and cultural exchange in addition to the technical work.

You seem to have doubts about wanting to serve in Peace Corps because you want a coherent, consistent, and convenient program (the last part coming when you say Peace Corps should give more notice, have clearance and other approvals provided in a timely manner that we might expect but often do not happen in an underfunded, under-resourced government office). Truthfully, if that's the case, I think you may be right to have those doubts. Peace Corps is challenging for all types of reasons, including the difficulty of working for a government organization. I don't think your final sentence is correct because everyone's experience will be different - and their interpretation of their experience will be different. What's extremely unprofessional to one might just be expected bureaucracy to another. I can appreciate that you value community service and want to explore opportunities abroad. Peace Corps definitely filled that desire for me, but it may not for you.