WHK4,
Who says the poor judgements of untrained people are worth debating? What training or experience does the student have in telling 12 degrees from 16 anywhere, let alone in a cockpit? Why the mystery and need for "human factors" explanations for people who have no experience and no basis for it? This does not take away their need for info, nor our wish to help.
Let me restate their question as I see it: I have no earthly idea how to tell the angle of approach, any more than I can guess the weight of a prize bull or the height of a far tree. Can someone give me some tips?
In that case, I see lots of good thoughts on this thread.