Originally Posted by
oggers
I was taught - when in the US - to simply go ahead and set the code and ident rather than wasting a call reading back something that ATC are about to verify on their screen anyway. Nonetheless it seems that many - perhaps even most - pilots in the US do readback.
You were taught incorrectly, or your information is out of date.
AIM 4-1-20
d. Transponder IDENT Feature
1. The transponder must be operated only as specified by ATC. Activate the “IDENT” feature only upon request of the ATC controller.