JBfan
I think GF meant pilots that say 'fully ready' at the holding point. You're either ready or you're not.
As for the 'request' we are there waiting in anticipation for your every call. You don't have to turn one transmission into two on frequencies that are becoming more and more congested. All we're going to do is roll our eyes and say, 'Go ahead'. You don't establish contact before requesting decend. Why do so before a request?