There are some nuts out there that think that they shouldn't have to touch the clarifier for any reason. Every time I hear one of those kind on the air I move mine off just to hear the nut squeal.
There is no need for echo, roger beep or any of that other crap on ssb either. What you need for contacts on SSB is a good clean signal that doesn't drift while you are holding a QSO. Another thing that wold help would be to get a three element beam so you can put your signal towards the direction you want to talk instead of wasting it in all directions. You will amazed at how easy it is to make contacts with a bone stock radio when you have a beam antenna.
So to make some contacts crank back on the modulation some and get a beam antenna. Working SSB is nothing like AM, just get on there like you were talking with a neihbor and you will gets lots of comebacks.