Tweety - with you.
But getting to the basis of the original post, I think the ATC hasn't done a real flash job in providing an acceptable clearance. I remember my early days as a student pilot and I thought ATC was like the police or God. Whatever they said goes. Wouldn't be the best of outcomes in marginal weather where an inexperienced VFR pilot trying to comply with a clearance conducted a CFIT. Here in OZ the ATC would be strung up.