Robert, I would tend to agree with your take. My approach to landing is very simple: imagine that you have machine guns on the wings and you are shooting the numbers. In other words fly yourself down to the runway maintaining constant (approach) speed on the straight line between you and the numbers. To accomplish that, just like anything in aviation: “whatever it takes”. It became actually my middle name. In reality it is a little pitch and a little power control. They work together and are not exclusive. I believe we concentrate too much on mechanics of the event and not enough on what is happening out the window. Mechanics for me are the guidelines that work perfectly in the calm or constant wind conditions- outside of those: “whatever it takes” as long as we guide rather than drive the airplane.
A perfect glide path can be managed with elevator; the speed with throttle. This assumes, however that the aircraft speed never drops below Vx. If it does, then back stick will not recover lost altitude. Throttle won't necessarily result in more speed.
The rules we give students need to apply in all cases. The time they need the rules most is just when things aren't going right. Throttle for altitude and pitch for speed always works. That's the method with which we will continue.
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On another note, NAFI has launched a price war -- a big shot across our nose. If we want SAFE to be anything other than a social alternative to NAFI, we need to start developing some training materials, contacts, and dialogs that deliver value to the flight instruction community.
