skym wrote:
For the ATC guys: I frequently have departed VFR, but then do a popup
if needed. Frequently these are sortof foreseeable possibilities, but
often enough I have been able to proceed VFR all the way. I've often
wondered just how much of a hassle it is to ATC to have to deal with a
popup.

I think it VERY much depends on the facility. I've talked with
controllers from several different facilities, asking a question
basically "if I want to descend through the clouds to land, would you
rather I go to FSS first, or just call you for a pop-up?" Invariably,
out here in the middle of the CONUS, the answer has been "just give us
a call - it's no more work for a pop-up than it is getting the
clearance strip through the computer."

Only once have I had a controller ask me to file with FSS first, and
that (strangely enough) was coming into El Paso, TX.