It ain't broke
....... As the report provided earlier today suggests, my case in hardly unique. Sounds like ATC needs to be fixed or airspace modified...........
Your experience isn't unique.
My last flight over the LAX class B was during the big fires last year. Flying VFR at low altitudes was impossible due to smoke. I didn't want to fly through the smoke, so I ruled out filing IFR. I departed TOA to the south toward AVX, then made the northbound turn over the class B when I was high enough. On my first call up the controller response was "I don't know who you are, standby".
Once he figured out what I was doing he called back with a different attitude. By the time he handed me off, we had a "good relationship"
I don't think there is anything wrong with ATC or the airspace - legislatively
Its just habit.
Most GA pilots fly below, around, or in the LAX class B, so I think it catches controllers by surprise. Also, some may get the idea they control that airspace because most of the time they do.
Avoiding the airspace above the class B is what causes this problem so my view is opposite of what some are advocating. I say, fly over the class B whenever possible.
Avoiding legitimate airspace because it makes ATC uncomfortable, in my view, is a bad idea. Pretty soon there will be no place we can fly.
Use it or loose it.