WoW CC!!! Despite your near legendary status back in deepest darkest, that was very out of character for you!!
Procedures are procedures and responding to requests irrespective of traffic levels is I assume one of theirs, so I can clearly see their point. I believe us ATC's refer to it as 'situational awareness', sometimes a little of that sprinkled with some fore-thought from Pilot Pete will go a long way to easing the pressure plate on our job.
Not that as ATC's we dont make unreasonable requests at times, but if when selecting a new frequency all you hear is potato salad through a fan and a cat with its tail on fire................!!...dont request a runway other than whats on the ATIS!!