Just prefer the block level myself these days. If it’s rough it allows me to bounce around different levels without having to bug ATC every few minutes.
The stupid thing is that a non standard level if requested was always ‘operationally required’ anyway. Either for smooth air or to save fuel. Insisting on it being ‘operationally required ‘ (without defining what that was) was as smart as some of the ‘climb via SID’, ‘descend via STAR’ stuff.