I trained in Wing Tsun for several years when I lived in Boston but they didn't hand out belts.  They thought of belts the way Mr. Miyagi thinks of belts in Karate Kid: They're there to hold your pants up.

I think most places give away belts to quickly because people want to progress.  It's not about what belt you have.  They teach Tang Soo Do at my YMCA and there's a 10 year old girl who's a black belt.  I don't care how long she's trained (5 years), she simply can't be a black belt at that age.  She's still too young to understand the point of all of it.

But if people are into belts and they like them, that's fine.  I train to learn the skill, gain the confidence, and to spar.  They asked me what I wanted out of Wing Tsun.  I said to hit other people in a safe, non-combative environment.  It was enough and they took me on.  Training was intense and focused and everyone was there to increase their speed, not their belt level.  There wasn't testing and people just worked on the next step once they mastered a basic skill.  The sky is the limit.

I doubt I'd be a black belt in any sport and I still work on my art but if you folks dig it, good on you.  Go get those belts!