The controllers then had to invent a new word over the radio: "freecall", and because of the workload associated with the babble, can only give everyone a Basic (i.e. Useless) Service
In the context of VFR FPL's I don't agree that Basic service is useless. Many of my returns to UK involve landing at a home field at a time of day when it's unattended. If I don't arrive, no-one's going to notice until next morning, or perhaps when the parking invoice goes unpaid.
Basic service gives me the confidence that someone can hear me, and I can hear them. If something happens, I've only got to press that button on the control column. Worth more than any FPL.