Generally speaking cars don't get so stacked up that someone HAS to let you merge until relatively close to the choke point. Problem is that everyone sees the slow lane and wants zip on by in the center lane until the last minute, there is no " zipper merge" if you've got to slow down in the center and some other guy in the right lane has to stop or remain stopped for you to get in.
You see it play out the same way a thousand times every day. Everybody knows why youre gumming up the works with your last minute plea for mercy merge request, you tried to be Johnny shortcut , its a minor inconsideration of others, but inconsiderate nonetheless .........you can wait.