Agreed that it's much easier flying in the US (and UK) than in the cocktail flying environment of Australian airspace.
I've done several trips with US pilots and the main difference I see is that "they" they offer to assist you, and they do. Want radar? You've got it, no problem - glad to help, have a nice day.
Here, "they" obviously want to relegate all VFR pllots to the status of bike riders on a freeway.
It is no burden to have area frequencies on a map or chart; it takes 3 seconds to verify that the correct frequency is being monitored, hardly a distraction; and it is nice to know what's going on around you.
Educate pilots: no need to remove the facility.