I was having a similar experience with the IP, and was beginning to wonder what all the hub-bub was about. Then I decided to really go after a scratch that had been in my hood since the day I pisked it up from the dealer (couldn't see it in the bright sun and they had filled it with glaze). I had tried Meg Med PC and SMR on this baby to no avail. And to be honest, IP with a foam cutting pad didn't affect it either. When I switched to a wool pad, that's when the water started to boil....so to speak. The combination of the two took out some very stubborn scratches. I followed it with FP, but think I will go back and take another pass with either Swirl Free polish or Vanilla Moose. But for taking out a stubborn scratch....
Oh and as far as it drying too fast, I found that misting the wool pad (almost dampening it) kept it workable longer.