let me expound on where I was going with this....

I am not debating the speed above 10K or below 10K. We know the MAX, but the issue I brought up is that I was told by a very senior MEM controller (not while working) that they (being ATC) expect us to be at 250 below 10K unless otherwise assigned. Now being that I am based in MEM I have become accustomed to being told speeds- such as "decend to 6K, slow to 190", but often if you come in either early or late and are not given a speed. As I am understanding this situation- unless otherwise given a speed you are expected to be at 250kts. Obviously once cleared or vectored for an approach judgement comes in and we (being pilots) will slow to bring in flaps/gear.

So I guess this is the bigger question.. If you are slowing on your own should or do you need to let ATC know..? I know this is splitting hairs but the reason the convo came up was that evidently they are having more and more issues with people slowing on their own (at 8k feet!) causing spacing issues.