I have taught mountain flying in the UK for some time. I have read the thread with interest as you have all described valid techiniqes for different occasions. However, the winning post has got to be by Mathew Parsons. Dont think you can read this and go practice! Get a course. I have been caught out when teaching and had some close shaves because the wind wasn't doing what I expected - or was that complacency creeping in? Either way the hills can and will bite if you do not give them the utmost respect all the time. The only true way to learn respect is to be shown by some one.
And just for the debate. I prefer to teach people to stay on the updraughting side level with the LZ or just below and use the wind to reduce my power requirement so the lever is NOT in my arm pit. However, every student has to start somewhere so you start with the constant angle approach then,when they have that, you show them how you could do it other ways and explain why and when to make the choice. They all work in different situations.
Interestingly, I always prefered teaching on days with 15 to 20kts of wind than days with less than 10 - always more of a challenge and more diffcult! I have completed SAR jobs in gusting over 60kts and thats just not fun - exciting - but definately not fun!