I think the percentage of programs that need ECFMG certificate at the time of application is way below 50% maybe 20% or something. But remember, these are the programs that are really IMG friendly, so you will be missing real chances.
As to whether you can do something about it, no there's isn't anything that you can do about it. You have to be ECFMG certified, period.
In ERAS, there's a question that asks you if you are ECFMG certified or not. If you say YES, you have to provide the date of issue. So if you don't have the ECFMG certificate in hand you can't answer that question.
Even if you want to just give them any date from your imagination, they will go and check with ECFMG if you are really certified and you will be busted
