Cost Index: We'd love to know the max speed of all aircraft we ever speak to, but that's a little far fetched.....different aircraft, different operators, different experience levels, different winds & turbulance - makes it hard to judge!
Also, max speed can also be translated as 'don't slow down too early if possible please.' If you are going flat knacker, keep on doing it (safely of course)!
Leg Man: Regards 2500 not below the steps, are you getting the CTA steps confused with the DME steps? Looking at the sector D DME arrival, you can get to 1320ft at 8DME. I stand to be corrected if I'm barking up the wrong tree. And I agree, somewhere there should be an airwarys clearance issued.
Cheers,
NFR.