IFR/Flight Following -- ATC Preferences?

On 10/27/2005 11:23 AM, Mark T. Dame wrote the following:

I used to feel the same way until I got my instrument ticket. Once I
started flying IFR flight plans, I started to file for any trip over an
hour or so long, regardless of weather. I liked having the extra eyes
looking for traffic (not to mention not having to worry about
circumnavigating some large cloud event).

Now, even if I don't file, I still call up for flight following unless
the trip is really short or I'm just going up to practice stalls or T&Gs.


Yes. In our neck of the woods (ZMP) I have never been refused flight following
nor been dropped when I was handed off to the Minneapolis TRACON. I am just
curious what the controllers prefer as it does not matter a great deal to me in
most cases. Hence the question.