Reasons vary why some take 6 wks and some 6 months.
Rarely - never , does it have to do with the person not being a "good citizen" if your license is taking 5-6 months to be approved, it simply means they are busy or yes, it is being used for a coaster. If you have a bad criminal record then they just "say sorry your license is denied". They don't start doing a 4-6 month background check, weighing their options, and trying to figure out if they should or shouldn't give you a license.
Waiting often has to do with the fact that one of your references was called but did not answer the phone. A message will be left instructing them to call back. In this day and age it seems those messages are often not checked and the person never calls back... months tick by and the CFO simply moves that application to the bottom of the pile.
I called up to politely ask what the situation was on my license, they told me my reference never called them back 2 months ago... I told my reference to call back the CFO (she never got or never checked her message) she called back and later that wk my license was approved. I have no doubt that if I had not called it may have been months before they called her back, or perhaps never... again it all depends on the time of year you apply, the province you are in, and how lazy the government worker who got your file is.
I just see these comments now and then saying "I got my license in 6 weeks I am such an upstanding citizen!" "Oh you are having to wait 4-6 months to get your license? RCMP must be worried about you!" "Oh they called BOTH your references? They must be worried about you, they only called one of mine!" Its all BS...
My opinion is just sit back and relax, research your new hobby, and call politely if it has been more than 2 months.