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Anticipating problems has a lot to do shared expectations between the pilots and the ATC.
I look for 6000 ft abeam the field 210 kts. That's an expectation that most controllers expect at most fields. Here's where I begin to closely manage my energy.
210 downwind, 190 base, 180 dogleg, 160 to the marker. Is there anybody out there that thinks the contollers are expecting you to do something different than these speeds.
Now. If I see a guy abeam the field at 250kts I'm alerted to the possibility that I may be in the presence of a clueless pilot. You'd be surprised the number of guys I fly with that will actually try to stay at 250 kts on dogleg in the weather, because the last speed assigned to them was 250kts. This is basic airmanship.
If the frequency is congested. Nobody expects you to be at 250kts on dogleg! NOBODY! Airmanship. Shared expectations.
Now. If I'm kept abeam the field higher than 6000 feet, I'm alerted to the possibility that I may be in the presence of a clueless controller. unless it's procedure at that particular field to be higher.
I'll be watching his vectors to see if he'll be expecting me to correct his errors. I'll oblige to a point, but never hesitate to ask for relief.
I had a controller turn me base 7000 ft AGL, 10 miles from the field. No problem, as long as you take it out another 10 miles.