4711
You are on the right track. If E airspace is promugated 8500ft in the J curve, and 14500 elsewhere, then NAS is workable with the current AsA infrastructure. The meatbombers and GFY's would worry me a bit tho'. Apart from them, there is probably few enough VFR's or IFR'S needing to go VFR, to be a real problem.
Lower E corridors would be a different matter. I think it's significant that in both VFR-ON-TOP and VFR CLIMB and DESCENT procedures, H23/03 states
When, in the controller's judgement, there is reason to believe that flight in VMC may become impracticable, the controller must issue an alternative clearance that ensures separation from all other aircraft for which he/she has separation responsibility
Obviously written by a clerk.
As a controller, are you happy to make those decisions from your bunker 1000nm away, about several different areas where your knowledge of differing VMC conditions is minimal?
Conservative controllers may well be very restrictive because of this, thus limiting the freedom E airspace is supposed to provide, and taking away the choices you quite correctly espouse.
"eo&e - errors and ommissions excepted (hope I haven't trod on triadic)
CG