Night Pilot...OK, call atruce?
Ianh, ahhh..the "late downwind" call.
Much as I agree with you, I have written verse from the Ministry of Aeroplanes (CAA) stating that there is no such thing as a "late downwind" call and that they should not be made.
It would appear that if you haven't called "downwind" at the point abeam the upwind end of the runway, there is no legitimate call that you can make.
I wrote to the CAA about this very point and was told that if the "call" is not in CAP413 it should not be made at all - and to remind everyone that "final" is singular, do say say "finals". Does it really matter, CAA?
I say again, I agree with you - IMHO you are talking to everyone on the frequency...not just ATC.
As for the downwind point....a lot of USA airfields take it to be midfield downwind, not abeam the upwind end. Another one for the students to note.