Jay Honeck wrote:

This is precisely my point, which may be summed up thusly: Class D is
"pretend" controlled airspace. It should be regarded as "Barely
controlled" or "Semi-controlled"...

But it *is* controlled. Heck, even Class E is controlled airspace!

In class D, IFR flights are vectored. In class D, the controller has the
right to give instructions even to VFR flights, as in "keep out" or
"leave" or "stay west of that river and below 3000 ft".

If you can't tell "controlled" from "separation provided", then this
isn't a flaw in the concept, but rather in the pilot's knowledge.

Stefan