The animators also need to keep in mind that they have Kakashi Gaiden as a "safety measure". If they feel they're getting too close to the manga, then have Kakashi have a 3-episode flashback Gaiden-style. And I don't mind 3-4 episode filler arcs since I can just skip them when I rewatch the series (episode 26? Episodes 102-106? Never heard of them, hehe), so putting a few in when they'd be appropriate is fine by me.
I mean, let's say they started doing 2 chapters an episode.
Currently:
Anime = Chapter 304
Manga = 392
Let's say 50 chapters a year (fairly close, given the three-weak break and occasional holiday):
A year from now:
Anime = Chapter 404
Manga = 442
A year from then (Kakashi Gaiden is done as a 3-episode flashback):
Anime = Chapter 498
Manga = 492
See? It would take 2 years before the anime can catch up. And 2 chapters an episode is pushing it anyway, I'm fine with 1.5 chapters. And if they go with only 1.5, the anime will never catch up if the manga finishes at Kishimoto's original plan of about 500 chapters. So they really are overreacting at this point. Come on, episode 26 was a great example of what Shippuden could be. I mean, the Rescue Gaara arc was done pretty well (Team Gai vs. clones fight aside), it's a shame if future arcs get slowed down for no reason.