MyData, If you are finding RT the hardest part of the job then get your instructor to arrange a tower visit - really helps to see the people you are talking to are human and are actually nice people. (Well they are at EMA can't really comment on elsewhere!)
Mike,
Not necessarily a different standard of ATC rather a different service. Leicester provides an Air/Ground service, and the lady in question (Best voice for radio I have ever heard btw) also arranges the booking in, answers the telephone etc. Your position calls are mainly for the benefit of other traffic - and in a busy environment like Leicester are very helpful. The only ackowledgement you would expect to get to position calls would be "roger" anyway.
Shame you departed when you did, I was on short final on runway 10 when the runway was changed to 28 (LH ccts) for joining traffic- you could have got a practical answer to the question you asked!