It all depends on the situation though, doesn't it?
For example, if I am being kept high (happens a lot in busy traffic areas, such as France, Spain, Italy... especially Italy!) then I'm going to be a lot happier if I can maintain a higher speed to descend at a quicker rate. The worst thing is being high, and told to slow down (especially when you've been told to maintain high speed 300kts, and then suddenly you get 220kts and being asked to expedite descent at the same time, DOH!).
Other days, we may have some weather en-route, or may be below profile so perhaps we will want to stick to more specific turb / econ speeds.
I understand the theory behind "one fixed speed", and they have many speed constraints published on the Paris arrivals from a long way out but the realistic terms is they are never stuck to by ATC or by arriving aircraft because every day, environment and situation is different.
Out of interesting, and to clear a rumour up, can you ATC guys see what speed we select? Or just the speed we are maintaining?