Hey Diving Duck, haven't noticed the requests for direct tracking personally but I guess we don't have them long enough for that. Agree on the requesting opposite end of runway. Air Arabia must have it as a standard operating procedure to push for runway changes at Shj every time they come in. Even got to the point where the pilot when told it was not available, asked "why not, the wind is light and variable, why can't we have it". Had nothing to do with the departures lined up about to get away and the other arrivals from the other side all happy with their straight in clearances.
I think almost all the gripes mentioned have come down to one thing and that is when pilots think they are the only pilots in the sky and so they should always be No.1, and always be straight in on RWY of choice, direct to final, cancel STAR speed restriction etc etc.