JT - in all my time I have never seen any company analyse obstructions at any distance - the only note I have EVER seen is 'ensure en-route MSA achieved' which is pretty logical, really.
It may be a 'very restrictive sledgehammer' but in the absence of anything else to hit it with how are we supposed not to 'hit it'?
As an aside, I once flew with a Captain who INSISTED I refuse the initial clearance to FL60 out of Venice (UK bound) as it was 'not high enough for the Alps'. VCE ATC were
slightly surprised and I persuaded him to accept it rather than return to stand.
