Did a 260nm flight today. Spoke to a/d of departure (ATC) ('cos I had to), and attempted unsuccessfully to get two-way with A/G at dest. VFR cruise at FL55, low level route with a listening squawk, VFR cruise at FL35. None of this @rse-covering, 'Duty of Care' 'ATSOCA'. Just looked out the window and got some pressures from passing ATII. So peaceful. Wonderful.
Basic service? Fine when, and IF, you actually NEED it.
'ATSOCA' requires discerning, measured selection, I think, rather than the action of an automaton.