"Jay Honeck" wrote:
I confess to making that announcement a couple of times, when I was a
newly-minted private pilot, as I passed over my home field. I think the
guys doing it are just so damned proud of their accomplishment that they
want their buds -- or anyone else listening -- to know that they're "up
there"...

It's really just silly.

I disagree that it's "just silly" or that it's only "newly minted
private pilots" bragging to buds that they're up there. Around here,
lots of people fly close to pattern altitude. If I'm in the pattern, I
appreciate knowing what they're staying or continuing on vs. having to
guess.