Surely the issue here is the mismatch between the category of airspace and the activities going on?
I would not for a moment disagree with contacting the ATC unit. But - why is it perfectly ok for IFR actual or 'acting' traffic to not keep a sufficiently good lookout in the open FIR?
My feeling is its good airmanship for VFR traffic to avoid these areas, to talk to the controlling ATC - but what about the airmanship (or dare I say lack of?)in having at minimum a degraded lookout in what is VFR airspace? Because people are instrument training its ok?