BT wrote:
When approaching a towered airport (Class D), suppose I am told a few
miles
out "report a 3-mile right base, runway 23"... as often happens.
The thing to do in this situation is to READBACK a base to the runway
closest to your ramp. The controller will correct you but keep reading
back your prefered runway and (out of exaserbation) he will just let
you do what you want.

No..
The tower will know you are an idiot.. along with everyone else on the
frequency.. and after a few tower calls to make sure you have the
directions.. and keep giving the wrong readback.. the tower will ask you to
exit the airspace.. too busy for igits tying up the frequency.. he's got 6
solo students in the pattern with better radio discipline.. and parallel
runways

Agreed. First off, the FAA has decided that the failure of ATC to
correct a erroneous read back does not absolve the pilot from disobeying
an ATC clearance.

Second, such subterfuge is stupid. If you want a different runway,
ask. ATC will cooperate if it's not inconvenient. It happens every
day.

PCT: Navion 5327K expect straight in approach to runway 1R.
27K: Any chance of 1L?