I think this is the first time I've ever disagreed with you, Robert!  Well, welcome to Monday....

We would immediately lose several clients if we automatically upgraded an order.  I have a clear understanding with my abstractors (I'm a vendor manager [with a twist[) that they are ALWAYS to call if an order is shaping up to be more than 40 years (full search in Michigan).  I understand (as do my clients) that we can't know for sure until we know for sure, but as experienced abstractors, we all get a feeling for when a search is going to be "in family" forever, or when the current owners have been at the residence for more than 40 years.  (If you run into owners with names like Horace and Bertha Smith, you pretty much know.  Not always, but a good percentage.)  At that point, I call the client and warn them that it may be a 40 year fee; should we go ahead?

About 50% of the time now, we're told to stop with a QCD if it's at least 2 years old.  I don't think this is really safe, but it's not my decision.  

I do everything I can to get an instantaneous answer for the abstractor, but if the client takes hours to get back to me with a decision, I warn them that the order will be delayed at least a day.  Everybody seems happy with this procedure.