I've done 5 transactions with Bitinstant VIA Zipzap/moneygram, etc. in the last few days, and all of them went through within an hour.  I did not use MTGOX at all, but had the BTC deposited directly to my Armory Wallet.  It worked fine. 

Excited, I recommended the whole thing to my friend, who made his transaction the same day (Tuesday) as me.  His BTC have NOT shown up, and no one from bitinstant will return his emails or anything.  Now I feel like an asshole and he is out $500. 

Mixed feelings, to say the least.