Surrender is like having an engine which is turning over nicely, and the car is just proceeding down the road. Almost no effort is required. It virtually drives itself.
In compliance, the engine is not working, and you have to push the car.
People who are just complying but haven't surrendered usually look as though they're working harder than anyone else, because of the all of the fuss and bother associated with the activity, but that's because compliance-based activity is much more strenuous than surrender-based activity.
The flipside is this: people get tired out, and need a break, and then there is a relapse or a reversion to other old patterns. This continues in a cycle until the person gives up altogether, either in the direction of drinking (or whatever else) or in the direction of surrender.