ACR LGT CREW MEMBER COMPLAINS OF ATC DISTRS CREATED BY APCH CTLR REQUESTS DURING ACFT EQUIP PROBLEM THAT NECESSITATES A RETURN LAND.

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DURING FLAP RETRACTION GOT ASYMMETRICAL FLAP CONDITION THAT LOCKS OUT ABILITY TO RAISE FLAPS -- HAD TO RETURN TO SLC FOR MAINT. AS SOON AS WE ADVISED ATC OF PROBLEM; THEY GAVE US SEVERAL HDGS; TFC CALLOUTS; QUESTIONS ON HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ABOARD; FUEL AND EVEN A TA THAT REQUIRED US TO MAINTAIN VISUAL SEPARATION FROM A DEPARTING ACFT. THIS WAS AN INCREDIBLE DISTR! IT TOOK 1 PLT JUST TO TALK TO ATC AND ANSWER THE CONTINUOUS RADIO CALLS. ATC SHOULD KNOW THAT WE MUST RUN CHKLISTS BEFORE WE RETURN TO THE ARPT -- HOPEFULLY THEY WOULD KEEP THE DISTRS TO A MIN. ALSO; AS SOON AS WE INDICATED (FOR THEIR PLANNING) THAT WE WERE GOING TO HAVE TO RETURN; THEY IMMEDIATELY VECTORED US TO A HIGH FINAL -- THUS INCREASING THE CONFUSION. THEY THEN ASKED US TO KEEP UP BEST FORWARD SPD FOR TFC BEHIND US! ATC SHOULD TRY TO KEEP DISTRS TO A MIN ANYTIME CREWS ARE HAVING A PROBLEM -- REGARDLESS OF HOW SIMPLE IT MAY SEEM OR REGARDLESS OF THE CREW DECLARING AN EMER (WE DID NOT). THESE DISTRS COULD HAVE EASILY INDUCED AN ERROR IN EITHER THE CHKLIST PROCS OR ALT BUST OR HDG BUST OR ETC; ETC.