763, your method has already been tried. The first attempt led to success, but the second was firstly ignored, then told follow published route, then ignored again. It does lead me to wonder though:
-Can ATC "see" the weather on their screens? From the string of brand new terminals that have popped up around Spain, has their spending spree extended to perhaps the latest greatest machinery that displays ie. satellite imagery in real time?
-What happens if I request a heading due to weather, am denied, and follow route into the serious crap? Is ATC responsible for this decision, and with what implications?
-To further that thought, blatantly lying to ATC to get a turn is a can of worms I'm not sure I want to open up. I doubt it would stand up in court, and I'd imagine could lead to a loss of my IFR priviledges? Or fines or who knows what?
I've done southeast asia in a previous life, and there's a good reason I spent too much time / money / energy on a shiny green book. This is where I want to be. The spanish ATC need to get with the program like the rest of europe. Algy's experience says it perfectly!