i try wherever possible to send an a/c as direct as i can, especially when its quieter. The temptation to ask certain airlines 'have you prebooked the direct route online, if not i accept credit cards for a nominal charge', is quite high
seriously though, here we are hamstrung by danger area activity, especially on the north sea area. the military are much better now at telling us when the areas are not being used and we can give short cuts for those unused periods.
On the subject of being asked, i don't mind being asked once, ask twice however and i tend to lose my sense of humour