Thanks for your input main_dog, it sure clears things up a bit.
Of course, it makes sense that the pilot should always be able to decide on a higher CLB setting.
This info about buses' "bumping up" the TO thrust is news to me and that is great info, thanks a bunch.
The washout is also something I had very little information. I found a CFM/Airbus doc where it suggested a washout between M .30 and M.40, which I have trouble understanding. The washout through altitude makes sense.
The bottomline seems to be that unless there are obstacles or specific requirements, there should be no reason to increase thrust from TO setting to CLB setting, and that CLB thrust will only increase much later during the climb (even 10'000ft is "late" compared to, say 3'000ft for example).
Cheers!
--
Romain