Y'all,
My IFR is usually in the SF Bay Area. I have found that the preferred
routes take me miles out of my way. I have also found that a brief
negotiated change of route suc as direct to a fix that
cuts 30-40 miles off the preferred airways is justified.

Consider IFR to Las Vegas. MEA 16K or above. Even 13K
takes you all the way around Edwards. Negotiated changes work
if known and used.

I would suggest that at some point an indicator on the system would
tell the pilot that it is time to negotiate a change.

Gene Whitt