Regs regarding "VFR flight following?" (also: "need to vent")

Yes on both. I also fly in that area (out of TTA) and my experience
mirrors yours. It seems like a rule of thumb that the farther east you
go in NC, the better the controllers are to deal with -- Seymor Johnson
is better than FAY is better than RDU is better than GSO and CLT is the
worst....

I have no idea why GSO acts so much busier than it is. Maybe they
train new controllers there.

Or maybe they are less flexible because the FSDO is on the field?

Try going further west. I was based at AVL for over a year, and found
the controllers
pretty friendly and accomodating. Be that as it may, I am well aware of
the "attitude"
that many of these facilities have (probably reflects the sort of
management that the
controllers have to live with). Bottom line is that I would rather not
talk to ATC if I have
a choice in the matter. I will route myself over, around or under their
airspace and never
say a word - and I will always choose an uncontrolled airport in
preference to one with a tower if said facilities will serve my needs.

Dave J