IMHO it's not just what you are doing that's important - it's what you are not having to do which is just as important. IMHO it's all about managing spare capacity and maintaining spare capacity rather than filling it with tasks for the sake of it. From both an air traffic perspective and an FI perspective I often hear and see an excess of effort for little product. I hear and see pilots giving their life stories etc. just for a Basic Service heads-down fiddling with plogs and GPSs etc. to the detriment of what is actually going on outside the aeroplane. For some, communicating seems to maximise workload and numb the aviating and the navigating, all for little gain. Yes, by all means, communicate with ATS for ATSOCA, but be discerning and selective, not simply automatons. Seek an appropriate service for the prevailing circumstances. Much of the 'Basic Service' RT traffic can actually hinder the LARS ATCO from executing his primary tasks by preventing him from using his primary tool. Similarly continuous chatter can actually prevent someone from saying something which actually happens to be important. Think 'is your transmission really necessary'.