The comment from USAir and the comment from the controller were both unnecessary. USAir doesn't need to worry about Air Tran. And controllers often forget that we, as airline pilots, try to give as much information as possible to the passengers we're taking for airplane rides. Usually figuring out sequences is easy. Even at JFK when you're number 45 in line for takeoff, it's fairly easy to get the timing down. When we ask the controller for a sequence, there's usually a good reason for it, whether it be for the passengers or for our planning purposes on starting engines, checklists, etc....