GASAX - absolutely not. I too prefer a 20 second phone call but can appreciate why they would prefer us to use AFPEX and if thats a requirement of ATC at ABZ and we want to fly out of there then so be it.
Having said that ATC will as of now give you a telephone book out as before if thats what you want to do. Try it - they do and have no problem with it. There is NO mandate to file a plan but if you fly out of ABZ and thats what ATC would like then why not?
Once you have started using the AFPEX system filing a plan is less than three minutes.
In fact you can make up templates so that all you are changing are DOF and time of departure. It really is that simple.