This does get me thinking-

I spend a lot of time around SFO Bravo, and have _never_ had a problem
getting Bravo clearance (hell, I've been cleared into bravo several
times without even asking, and for no real reason). I do the bayshore
freeway transition probably three or four times a week without so much
as a batted eyelash from ATC.

I've noticed that a lot of non-Bay-Area Pilots have a certain
"Airspace Phobia", that is, they will go _way_ out of their way to
avoid all controlled airspace, and essentially consider it/treat it as
though it was a TFR. For Example, I flew up to Portland a few
weekends ago, and decided to give a local friend an aerial tour of the
city. Before taking off, I got talking with a local pilot, who made
sure to 'warn' me "Watch out! its really tight in there between the
hills (With 1400 foot transmission towers) and the river!, you'll have
to go really slow and make a very tight turn to get back out of there
and avoid the controlled airspace!"

If you look at PDX on the seattle chart you can see what he's talking
about. Downtown is located on a little flat land between a river and
a hill with a string of 1500 foot broadcast towers, all under a 2300
foot Charlie floor. The space between the river (Charlie to the
floor) and the towers is a mile or two at MOST... frankly, reminds me
of the former east river corridor, low with no room to move.

I politely thanked him for his advice, took off, promptly called up
norcal, and asked for Class Charlie Clearance. It took all of 30
seconds, and I was given free reign to tour the city as I saw fit, at
a _safe_ altitude, no low slow turns, no stress from towers, just a
nice, easy flight. The whole 'be careful, go slow' advice seemed...
well, almost silly and misguided, if not dangerous. Why was calling
up approach and getting into two-way radio communication not the first/
only option?

Hearing your story does make me wonder though, I always just assumed
that my comfort in controlled airspace was merely a result of being
'brought up' (primary training) at a class Charlie field (OAK) under a
Bravo Shelf, and that the people who were skittish of controlled
airspace just lacked the practice/comfort with ATC. I wonder though
how much of that impression also comes from the fact that on the whole
I've always found the norcal guys to be so polite, friendly and
accommodating. Is that unusual? Are some Controlled airspaces more
intimidating than others?

I guess I'm just wondering if there is any regular and consistent
"personality" differences between Bravo Approach regions throughout
the country, and if my comfort in Bravo is partly because I'm used to
a particular control area that just happens to be very 'nice'?