Thanks for that, Julian. One thing I am permanently amazed by is the professionalism of ATCers in an emergency situation.
I doubt that privatising the service would change much. UK ATC is privatised, and I don't think our controllers are any less professional than our American friends. The fragmentation would make very little difference. On a flight from Phoenix to Las Vegas, I had to make an un-planned stop at an airfield in eastern California. Once on the ground, I phoned the local FSS to update my flight-plan. But because they didn't cover my departure or destination airfield, they had no knowledge of my flight, and it took a little effort and a few phone calls on their part to get it all sorted out. So I think things are actually quite fragmented already, but it doesn't stop them providing a superb service.
FFF
--------------