Re. having to maintain when on a high speed descent. Sorry, but sometimes sh!t happens. We try not to let it but the hand-off process isn't automatic - I have to initiate it & the next controller has to accept you. All it takes is me being busy & starting the hand-off later than is ideal & him being busy so slow to take the hand-off. I can't just assign a lower level in someone else's airspace without their say-so, so you maintain. At least you that way you don't hit anyone.....
Unlike you I'm not staring at the one aircraft
