I'd be remiss if I didn't post the ultimate reason for my request of a block altitude
Short video
which includes 10 to 15 seconds snippets of my my recent trip to the NE practice area of KMBO put to music (no ATC).
Not sure if I can think of a better reason for requesting a block altitude.
Got to say, learned this trick from my IA instructor. Only difference is that in training, he didn't keep me on top, he put me right back in the soup.