On the subject of the figure of eight turns, it is important to maintain speed in the turns. You don't want to end up doing too many and then getting too low, then having to stretch the glide.
There was a lot of correspondence about the dangers of too many turns. It can be unsettling when under stress and you can lose focus. Why not use sideslip?
Like most xc glider pilots although we don't want to land out, we are always looking for suitable areas. I still remember (and use) the lessons from Bronze C days - when operating below your 'comfort' level always keep close to the good fields.
In power, I am often astonished at the low levels pilots fly at given their appalling glide performance - similarly how far back their turn to finals happens.