aaah! the much loved term is still alive and well.
It came about a few years back for a different reason but today an attempt to acknowledge to ATC that yes we know we need a clearance to enter class echo airspace and you dont need to remind me and then require me to read that back. A statement that is equally superfluous.
Personally I'd rather have pending clearance that doesnt require a readback, or nothing at all than, remain clear of class echo airspace that does.
Bring on the debate