AV8,
Yes I've heard this business about playing around with tails. It works with an RMI when you push the head and pull the tail, but it can confuse the hell out of poor Bloggs.
Isn't it easier to say to Bloggs 'If the head point left you turn left, if it points right you turn right whether you are flying to or from the beacon' I find that most students understand that concept!
Throw away comment: You don't use the tail of the ASI needle for reading airspeed do you? Why use the tail of the ADF for reading relative bearings!
Safe beacon bashing chaps!
Vigi