Thanks for all the responses. Good pespectives.
The original question was in reference to pads, ridges, or toe-ins on steep terrain and usually at altitude. Of course into wind is the best option, but often an up-valley wind in the afternoon will set up a situation where you have to accept a stiff x-wind on the last phase of the approch. Again, you want to minimize that time as you are then fairly commited, but avoiding it altogether is not often possible.
The H/V debate was an interesting one as well. I think if you spend most of your time hovering on the (100ft.) line, it's an arguement that really doesn't matter much, does it?
AR