Allthenines, I'm agreeing too. No need to go belting down (apart from the aforememntioned several levels at a time scenario)- RA's involve far too many heartbeats and paperwork for my liking, but there's a number of skippers I fly with that think along the lines of what you were saying. Sounds like we're on the same fleet/airline!
NorthernSky- I'm with the other respondant on that too- if you're asked your speed and all you get is a roger and you're unsure whether you have actually just received a command- ask. Can you imagine the amount of wasted time if the control had to apend "I'm actually just asking this for info-...could you tell me your speed" every time they were asking a question.
Spose everyone's got foibles tho. (that spelt right?)
Alf