DFC
Know where you're coming from, agree with all you say regarding the procedures for inbound / outbound traffic. I work under the same rules when we don't have radar. (Civil LARS unit outside CAS with various instrument procedures).
However - we are talking about MATZ's here (which I've also worked inside), not civil ATZ's so using your example just confuses the issue in question. You only have to remember the recent experiences of 'Spot' Williams to realise my theory closely mirrors the way the military investigative system works
KPax
The example I quoted was heard by me whilst overflying a MATZ in the UK. (Not aimed at me - I was at FL80 at the time!). It seems not everyone is using the phraseology you quote.