This is a perennial `chestnut`!
I have always assumed that the Attitude for Speed technique was introduced early on in pilot training because usually the training aircraft is single engined. Thus the forced landing scenario has to be taught early on. However what you advocate is exactly correct for almost all operations, the problem arises in how one weans the tyro pilot away from the early training. Incidently, John Farley`s book has some excellent views on this subject.