HKG Phooey
Get your facts right mate. The only place you get consistent "standby's" is from CDC and the bulk of the time that is being done by non ATC's. CDC is a coordination nightmare, so it will happen. If you are told to standby by ground, there is a reason, either what you want is not immediately/readily available, or the poor bugger wants a second to gather their thoughts. I often ask pilots a question and am answered "standby"..I don't always expect an immediate answer. So please be reasonable with what you put here, and what you expect in the real world, or both.