I guess you're not a pilot?
Never assume, always check! I am in fact a qualified pilot of some 10 years experience and in current flying practice of both simple and complex types. I also get quite annoyed at pilots/instructors that seem to think that only
their viewpoint is correct, and that they are the only priority in the sky. Inflexibility has cost many a pilot his life or his career.
I think that
HelenD has probably hit the nail on the head. Orbiting, extending downwind (within reason) et al is not something that should be used everytime for every aircraft in the circuit, however they can be and are used as a tools to allow the needs of all the aircraft in the sky to be safely addressed. Do instructors no longer teach reference points in the circuit for puting the aircraft into the correct configuration for landing? What do your students do on a straight in approach, crosswind or base leg joins? The skills required to correctly configure an aircraft in these scenarios is no different to configuring the aircraft at an appropriate point in the cct after an orbit or extending downwind.
The visual ciruit is just that,
visual. Look out of the window and avoid banging into things. The controller will give you as much information as he has available to help you achieve this, and will also give you instructions to safely integrate you with other traffic that may be of a higher flight category.
Before
BEagle jumps up to argue about ATCO's issuing instructions to VFR traffic, note that within an Aerodrome Traffic Zone,
At Aerodromes with an air traffic control unit, all movements are subject to the permission of that unit. Aircraft will comply with instructions given by radio telephone and maintain a listening watch. (MATS Pt 1 Sect 1 Chap 2 para 6.2)
If you want to do your own thing, in your own way without due regard for others then fine, but do it somewhere where you are not going to endanger anybody or anything whilst doing it.
PS Genghis:
secondly RAS , etc. is available in VFR, that or I've been getting a service under false pretenses all these years.
MATS Pt 1, Chapter 5, Page 2, para 1.4.1 (a) regarding Radar Advisory Service states:
The service shall only be provided to flights under IFR irrespective of meteorological conditions.
You may want to have a wee chat with your local ATSU to see if they have any local variations to this just to clear up any doubts you have as to why you have been receiving a RAS under VFR.