Don't "bow out in shame", MJ. I hope I haven't arrived too late on this one, but as someone who has received emergency handling without declaring an emergency, I'm with you.
OK, military context, but having aborted the sortie for an electrical problem and returned to the circuit, my intention to do some practice circuits was queried by ATC "in view of your emergency". Now, the middle of the North Sea is no place to be flying around on one (generator? alternator? can't remember), but the visual circuit on a good day its no problem.
Another time, my conversation with my No.2 about a nosewheel red light was passed to ATC without my knowledge or consent and they told me I had an emergency!
Finally, on the point of downgrading a Mayday, I was always taught that it was good manners to downgrade if you could, in case someone else arrived with a more urgent problem.
MJ has a point, I think.