NORMAL PRACTICES AROUND THE PLANET
J.M. Im afraid you are being far too pedantic here.My experience (im still an active TRE and PIC on a widebody) around the planet including UK airports and most areas worldwide in 40 years (next month) and 22000 hours, mostly in an IFR environment is you would normally start an SID with the first constraint/hard altitude in the MCP and this is what you must STATE to ATC when your PM first makes contact airborne.IF ATC SAY NOTHING TO YOU regarding cleared altitude/FL then of course , away you go following the steps to your CLEARANCE LIMIT.This has nothing to do with SOPs although in some companies there may be a stated policy WRT this part of your flight, but when was the last time you heard nothing from ATC after initial contact regarding cleared altitude/FL.I cant recall one.PP