Allow 4-6 weeks for your subcription to start

Why 4-6 weeks? I can understand that a few decades ago it may have taken that long to process a magazine subscription form, have a typist add it to the rolls, mail the set of addressees to a printer, but today?

If you subscribe via an online form, why shouldn't you get the very next issue? In fact, why don't you get the current issue?

The sooner your subscription starts, the sooner the magazine can start recognizing revenue. So why don't they make every effort to start your subscription immediately?