The Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) subsystem has evolved over time to become a key dependency for many applications, Configuration Manager being one of them.   We've been intertwined since the .698 build of WMI shipped with Systems Management Server 2.0 (there was even a WBEM Inventory component in SMS 1.2).  

Given this history and relationship it's important to know what to do when something goes wrong. 

I've spent many years investigating / troubleshooting WMI related issues ...