I am AML verified and requested a relatively small ~1.5 BTC withdrawal - should be a simple, automated process, right?

Nope - 72 hours and 2 support tickets later... still radio silence. 

I don't know if Mt. Gox is 1) sinister or 2) utterly incompetent, or 3) both...  But Mt. Gox expects the public to trust them with their hard-earned money?  LOL. 

Any suggestions as to how to resolve this?  Also, any suggestions as to a BTC exchange that doesn't make me feel like I am walking down a dark alleyway in Tijuana?