Wow 411A, talk about missing the point in a huge way
A Heathrow bod remind me.........was it BA or BMI when they got those shiny new 737s that were requesting 170kts to 4 DME (something to do with extending the gear on final)? Thing is, they would ask on first contact and you could
plan for it (they didn't ask for it all the time)
The issue being discussed is fluctuations in speed without informing ATC. If it can't be done or something different is required, say someting and it can be
planned (there's that word again) for. Nobody is looking to push anyoone outside of SOPs or performance envelopes, just trying to play the game together. I think you'll find those controllers "who can't do their jobs properly" may surprise you.......or pull your ass out of the sequence to be repositioned for dropping the controller and the guy following in the s***.