At many airports, such a diversion from SIDs is rather the norm than the exception. Usually, it is a direct to a point further down the route, vectors for shortcuts or, possibly, also a route around a slower traffic. There is also the mentioned instruction "when passing x ft, turn right/left etc.".
None of these instructions are unusual or only grudgingly accepted by crew - they are taken as they come. If there is sufficient capacity on the controllers part, a quick information about the reason in case of an intermediate leveloff or a longer route is gladly taken as well.
After all, everything that safely expedites the flow of traffic is in the crews best interest...