I absolutely agree on this. I was "playing the game" on F16 for 12 years as well and I can only make the same comment with maybe a little extra:
One should know that in many circumstances, Tatical controllers do not have a full picture like most area/terminal controllers have. The reason is simple, in some areas (surrounded by airways, sometimes even below and above) the amount of traffic is too large and clutters the picture. Their responsability is mainly to check participants do not leave the working area whilst CIVILIAN controllers will monitor if their traffic is not converging towards an unwillingly exiting from the zone traffic. When this happens all phones become red in the tactical room and the military pilot is urged to manoeuvre sharply towards the working area. This working method only works if a positive radar contact is mainained==> mode 3/C always used. PS: I never flew without mode 3/C, even for some missions over Bosnia/Kosovo...
On top of this, military aircraft have an on board radar and as soon as a CIVILIAN traffic is called, the fighter pilot will both try to acquire it on radar and avoid at the same time, increasing the safety given by ground controllers.