The sign up process will be speed up at some point. Steemit Inc and other dev are working on a multitude of ways to achieve this. Some option already exist.

https://steemit.com/news/@timcliff/new-tool-from-busy-org-create-new-steem-blockchain-accounts-with-steemconnect
https://steemit.com/steemit/@someguy123/anonsteem-now-supports-steem-payments-steem-accounts-with-no-delay-or-phone-number