I accept handicap stones requests in real Go club but I always hope that opponent will not start talking about it and would do Nigiri.
When its not clear how our ranks were measured its not possible to be sure that I am the one who needs to give 2 stones handicap to opponent. What if its actually the opponent is the one who needs to give 2 stones to me? Its strange to wish to stick with that tradition in such circumstances. Even by default makes more sense, unless rank difference is too big. If you lost terribly then it makes sense to request handicap in the next game.