Dr S
Don't worry about adjusting to QFE - it isn't going to make much difference to your PLOG as you'll only have to climb or lose about 300ft - easily done. As for what everyone else has said all I will add is don't bother with a pressure on your initial call - they'll give you one to fly, and don't bother with an estimate - Military controllers aren't interested on the whole as they use radar so can see what's happening. Estimates are mainly for the benefit of units operating procedurally.
Flight Information Service is the minimum service an ATC unit can give you, so you'll be under this anyway (you should be told though), as well as being in receipt of a MATZ crossing clearance eventually
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Massbalance
Whether you use a Military LARS unit or not bears no relation as to whether it will stay in existence. They are usually linked to the units 'zone' function - the airfield closes and the zone goes, you lose the LARS service. Stations closing have more to do with defence cuts than provision of ATC services, and the military are just as short of controllers as the civilian world.
As for saying to ask for a RIS a request if I may. Think about whether you need it before you ask for it. If it's an iffy day then by all means do, but if its gin clear and the guy is busy you will be degrading the service that he should be giving to the aircraft that's in IMC that really needs it, because he's trying to give you something that you don't really need. A little thought is sometimes required
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[This message has been edited by Chilli Monster (edited 26 March 2001).]