ferris, I was responding to someone's comments about large block clearances rather than operations at non standard levels.
I don't mind using non standard levels* if I need to but I make sure that I'm more tuned in with the traffic around me if I do.
*(current operations limit this to Continental Australian Airspace. I'd never do it in Indonesia, Phillipine, Thai, Indian, Pakistani, or Burmese airspace.....and probably a few others that I haven't included there also).