FYI, got my MI Permit in 2003. I live in Ingham County, and the county gun board did not require me to appear before them. I received a post card telling me I could pick up my permit at the County Clerk's office. So, it appears that not all Michigan County gun boards require first time applicants to show up.
I've got to say this is a surprise to me, when I received my first permit in 2001 all of the gun boards were requiring all applicants to show, (which led to some real large meetings mine had over 50 applicants).
During the 2003 first renewal cycle (permits were originally for 3 years, now changed to 5) they started mailing permits for renewal's only. Reasons stated at the time of this was due to the continuing high amount of permit applications it would reduce the burden upon the gun boards.
It would appear some jurisdictions chose to loosen it and under PA 381 of 2000 sec 5 (7) they could, and apparently are in some of the smaller jurisdictions.
This section of the law allowed the gun boards to use this form of discretion but they are neither making law, nor are they defining law they are simply following the law.
Which brings me to the point of when the fight was on for our CCW law I called, visited with our Representatives, , mailed letters, wrote letters to the editor, went on talk radio shows for, worked with Grass roots groups, and marched with others to help get our law enacted, basically took a very politically active stance.
Our law's are in the hands of those that are answerable to the voter, most police chiefs are not they are a appointed position with no repercussions if they go renegade on you, the fact NV lets it chiefs decide and make law and Letting a non lawyer decide what reciprocity means is just messed up on so may different levels.