A 5.5 gal. batch sparged AG batch takes me about 4.5 hours from the time I start heating water until I finish the cleanup.
Well, that's not bad at all. It usually takes me just under three hours for an extract batch (5 gallons), if I'm really paying attention to cleaning as I go.
Since others mentioned it, I will say that I am sometimes unhappy with the coloring in my beers, which I am sure would improve with AG. It's a minor concern, but there are occasions when they definitely should look lighter than they do. (Interesting, the idea of quicker boils and how that might affect color. I'll have to look into that.)
And just for the record: I was not at all offended by the term "cheating." I completely understood the OP's meaning.