AS a Go/ezyy pilot who has flown into CIA many times, it is indeed correct that 33 is ONLY requested for performance reasons, not flight time. There would be minimal time difference anyway.
What always amuses me, is CIA ATC always advise of delays when you request 33, but I have rarely experienced ANY delay, after arriving at the hold. Always thought Rome ATC did well fitting us 'non-standard' departures in.
Very wrong of any pilot to blame ATC in that situation.