knobbygb, your post has cast some light on a discussion I had a few weeks ago with somebody else (you know who you are!)
FNG, please don't mock knobbygb. I too found RT the most nervewracking bit about the PPL. Give me a scary crosswind any day! When concentrating hard on aviating, just about getting the navigation bit right and then having to find the spare brain capacity to get clearance to enter a control zone, well, it's just not so easy for some. It's nothing that a bit a practice and experience won't solve of course but we all had to start somewhere. I do however agree with the point you are making.
Ian_Wannabe, good luck on QXC. Hope you don't have to return to base too early.
Regards
Stoney X