But for me the words Basic Service would imply that there is some kind of service given
Adam I agree but there is, it's a Flight Information and Alerting Service. Unfortunately someone in their wisdom decided that instead of tackling the real issue of education, a (very minor) re-vamp of the services and a re-naming of them should be carried out.
It has not helped reduce confusion - in fact it may even have added to it.
The idea of BS and giving you traffic information is as much to do with duty of care than anything else. We all know pilots should brief themselves on NOTAMS etc before getting airborne, but sometimes things are missed. If an ATCO, even a non radar position, can give you an inflight warning of say 'caution, 30 flying pigs in the vicinity of McDonald's Farm, up to 3000ft', then surely that's better than nothing and it's worth the check in. Also, if you happen to be flying from a private strip, VFR OUTCAS, checking in with a unit can help if, Heaven forbid, you have a catastrophic problem.
With a FIS you knew exactly what it meant - Flight Information Service - a service giving information pertinent to the safe and efficient conduct of your flight etc etc.
TS and DS might actually be better descriptives of RIS and RAS, but that does not remove the fact that pilots and ATCOS alike should be fully conversant with what they can get or give with either, or how a 'contract' between the pilot and ATCO is actually achieved or changed
.
The system is a mess, albeit the 3 services do have a very valid place. Unfortunately the change has only muddied the waters further.