Originally Posted by
055166k
Poor controlling technique. Controllers should not try to fly the aeroplane......that's your job. Don't think I ever used that during a long career. Instruct or clear "level by" and let the pilot choose the solution..... would be my preference. Of course the real answer may be the particular traffic scenario at the time.......a friendly query letter to the ATC agency might explain.
ATC instructions specifying rate of climb and descent are largely redundant these days. The original intent was to reduce the number of multiple transmission in step climbs/descents.