DI3G, as I mentioned, I have no idea what was said on the tapes, or in fact of the actual details, as opposed to the reported details, however the order of thoughts going through my head would have gone something like...
Am I up sh$t creek in a barb wire canoe, needing to get OTG asap?
Yes it sure seems that way.
Am I getting what I want from ATC having made my situation as clear as I can?
No
.... "Mayday Mayday Mayday"
No ATC certainly weren't being too helpful at the time, but in the accident report after it all goes quiet due flame out, who would get the majority of the blame? My money is on the guy in the LHS.
I have only flown into the US about 200 times so I am not intimately familiar with the nuances of ATC, particularly DFW.
On a completely different note, where is 411A or whatever his name is. He would usually be on this type of post like a rabid dog.