blackboxman writes:

I know this is an IFR forum but your opinion is appreciated.

Scenario: you are receiving VFR flight following and are handed off to
another controller. You call up the new controller to make initial
contact. According to a controller I overheard yesterday, this callup
is incorrect:

"Name Center, Cessna 12345, five thousand five hundred."

This controller told every single pilot who checked in this way that
they were to state that they were VFR.

"Name Center, Cessna 12345, five thousand five hundred, VFR."

Is this new? It was news to everyone who got "the lesson" from this
controller. Thanks.

If you've been handed off to him by another controller, he already knows you
are VFR. If he needs you to tell him that, he isn't on top of things.