Help - seems like I have been delusional for years.
I have always believed ATC were there to give IFR/VFR aircraft in CTA separation and OCTA IFR traffic information and VFR whatever assistance requested (eg METAR, Flight following etc). This of course means communicating on an appropriate frequency shown on a chart.
A low level multicom/ CTAF for VFR not requiring any ATC services was also preferable.
For IFR to still access traffic service OCTA and still keep track of multicom/CTAF at the same time would require two VHF (which certainly regional RPT do now). Hence my comment above.
The big issue for alerted see and avoid multicom/CTAF below whatever might be an agreed level is too many unnecessary radio calls.