I thought one of the reasons for the huge circuits we see nowadays is that Instructors extend the circuit out to enable them to debrief the previous pi$$ poor landing... You then get less landings in, making the student pay for more flying......and then the instructor gets more hours so he can wander off to airliner land quicker..
My old, bold instructor told me that you should be able to land back on the runway if you have an engine failure downwind, and you can also see whats going on on the aerodrome.
I had to get the Cherokee I was No. 2 to at the weekend to report his position, as I couldnt even see him (on a CAVOK day!) I estimate he was downwind outside the ATZ.
