You are correct, but in defence of others, that "Initial contact with approach with callsign only" request, is only ever made at LHR. Nowhere I have ever been, all round the world, does ATC made that request except at LHR going to 126.9. It is a UK thing.
Actually, that is one of the few non-UK specialities. Well, elsewhere it is not approach but rather director (feeder), but the same still applies.