FL245, Yes it is ICAO recommendation that the ATC puts the aircraft in level flight onto the LOC about half-a-mile or so before the GP. That is certainly how I was trained and that is what I teach when I do.
Only real reason that I sometimes find to cut it short is to put you onto the ILS into the shrinking hole ahead of the guy that is at 15 miles already on the LOC. In that case I will at least attempt to get you down a bit lower.
Skytalkert