OK, I see what you mean. Automatic renewal was active off and on through mid-2024 but there were reports of dependents not being able to avail the automatic route.
I don’t think AIMA is skipping over anyone deliberately, right now they’re handing out appointments to whatever mails catch their attention, and they’re definitely not looking at their backlog mails. Once they formalise an online application process, maybe things will get more orderly and they can start processing according to some criteria like expiry date or application date.
My guess is that if the dependents (or their lawyers) whose cards expired in 2023/2024 send email now, they have as good a chance as anyone, primary or dependent, whose card expired in 2025. The appointments-by-email process seems to have picked up pace from mid-March.