My understanding of the books, is that if you receive
Cleared for Visual Approach
or
Cleared ILS (or whatever Instrument procedure you are Flying)
Then all previous altitude restrictions are cancelled unless they are added to that clearance.
Agree entirely that terrain clearance becomes the Pilots responsibility
I would also have to say what happened to courtesy/ professionalism on the airwaves. I've always found the best resolution is not over the radio but by use of the telephone. But that's just my opinion.