Piltdown: Indeed. At BGY you start the approach at a FL over the VOR. You descend outbound to an Altitude and turn in descending further after a DME is passed, then intercept the ILS. Common for ATC to clear you to the VOR at FL and "cleared for approach". Why should radar talk you round & down the procedure? You follow the chart and they monitor you. Quiet, calm, relaxed and allows radar to give their attention to all traffic.
However, it was not uncommon for some airline crews, who were more used to being 'led by the hand', to ask, "can we descend?" ATC "you are cleared approach call finals." Only for the a/c to repeat the question. I guess confirming is safer, even twice, but which part of cleared approach from the VOR didn't you understand? May sound harsh, but it takes up radio time and makes one wonder.