Recover,
Not really adding to the debate, but it might interest you to know that when you say...
Although it's not necessarily absolutley correct, due to the niceties etc a typical call could be: "Morning Director, Speedpig 533, flight level 105 descending flight level 80, radar heading 280, speed 280, Airbus 320, information Golf."
The approach director does the following....
1) locates your flight strip
2) scores out levels 120 and 110 as having been passed,
3) circles reported cleared level,
4) writes down reported heading,
5) writes down reported speed, or maybe uses a "+" to indicate a high speed,
6) ticks aircraft type, or changes it if different,
7)notes atis information received on strip and informs if a more up to date one available.
All the information is relevant, though some parts arguably more than others, and should all be copied onto the flight strip as you're speaking.
But if you had failed to mention cleared level, aircraft type and information received we'd have to ask.
And, relevant to this debate, if you were on a heading from the previous sector but not mentioned it, well ideally we do really like to know.
It's just unfortunate that not all transfers between the far apart area sectors can be as short and straightforward as those between the cosily sat together approach directors like myself.....
"report your callsign only to..."
Maybe one day though, when we're up and running with Mode S and datalinks.
WF.