Tinny...
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">DME descent (not that there are any of those left now)</font>
Still quite a few here in PNG mate, if you miss them THAT much!
Most of the time, it's the only navaid that's serviceable!
<font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size="2">What do others think? Other factors being equal, would you prefer a straight in approach using NDB/DME? Or a circling approach with a VOR?</font>
I can't imagine any place where there'd be such a situation, but here goes ...
The "all factors" bit is rather a sweeping generalisation. If the straight-in serves the runway I need and weather is down at minimums, then I'd take that one every time. BUT, it largely depends on how the MDA works out for each type of approach. It is usual, for example (at least in this part of the planet), for straight-in approaches to have a lower MDA than a circling approach. Sometimes, the Cat A/B Circling MDA will be the same as the straight-in MDA, but that don't happen very often here.
If weather isn't much of a problem, I'd go for the circling approach using the VOR. It really is a case of "horses for courses" but I agree with your comment about a preference for a DME Arrival, especially if covers a broad sector of tracks. Saves time ... and money (which keeps the boss happy - and me in a job!).
A situation we have at AYPY is that a VOR/DME approach serving RWY 14L has a higher MDA than either the Twin Locator for the same runway, or the Locator/DME procedure. Thus, if the ILS ain't available and the weather is at minimums, I go for the Locator-based procedures every time.
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Dispela olgeta samting i pekpek bilong bulmakau!