A few comments:
Bluerider777 said: "...Of course, mostly when you are too busy to provide a Flightwatch service, you are too busy to log it! ..."
Of course, also when ATC is busy is usually when the bugsmasher is too timid to ask for flight information ... for fear of interupting the important stuff
In the VH-XMV incident ( which is very similar to my scenario in a prevoius post), I wonder what would have been the outcome if she did get on to ATC frequency. I know she would have been given priority ... but what would have been the affect on the ATC's traffic situation? Could it have led to some unanticipated holding? Or, delay in descent, climb or diversion clearances for the big boys?
BTW, in the USA, the Flight Service Officers have VHF direction finding equipment. So they can, normally, very easily and efficiently provide a position to lost pilots.