Alan Gerber wrote:

On my first cross-country solo, the controller cleared me into the Bravo
without me asking for it. (My home airport is underneath the shelf.)

I didn't actually enter the Bravo, since I was a student at the time, but
this is an example of the controller helping you. :-)

... Alan

Exactly!

I've had that happen many times heading through NYC. As I'm flying
across Long Island Sound on VFR flight following, as I'm preparing to
ask, I get "58S cleared to enter Bravo airspace". If I'm headed through
to the south, they'll also often vector me to the Colts Neck VOR,
straight over JFK.

Without FF, you're calling up and asking for clearance out of the blue.

With FF, they've already got an idea where you're headed, you've already
got a code, they expect you to ask for clearance, and I think it makes
their job that much easier.