and cite safety concerns about the airspace design and ATC procedures in the USA.
Some concerns valid. But others overplayed. Best compromise is where we have our Class B/C areas designed so that jet traffic and piston traffic climb out and approach in very different areas of the airspace, but all still under control.
Really? I'd suggest that all airspace users feel that way. Unless you are suggesting you have a lower safety threshold?
Nobody wants a mid-air but lighter aircraft do have lower safety thresholds. The public transport flight that carries more people will feel the impact greater if it is involved in a collision as many more lives are lost.
However very busy GA VFR and IFR airports also have a air traffic control because see and avoid does not work at such levels.
Who is keeping aircraft out because they don't pay?
Essentially NATS looks after huge volumes of Class A airspace in lower airspace across the UK. Much more than the Class D it looks after. And the vast majority of GA flies according to VFR.
Therefore there is a underlying perception that the airspace is set up deliberately to keep traffic GA out instead of being safely cleared through it.
And I'm not haranguing any coal-face controller here. I was just rambling on the issues and misundertandings and inconsistencies about LARS - not the SERVICE provided by the people, but its DEFINITION as a concept - and then someone took things personally, interjected, and asked me to pay for it.