You have the same time to LISTEN but much less time to LOOK
I don't know how you arrive at that
And gliders will not be using radio in the circuit.
Gliders aren't in the circuit
'there's lots of stuff coming from all directions' and then got my number in the circuit wrong...
so what ??
Just to say the downwind join is rather safer in my view.
Safer than what ?
I'll say it again
there is no definitive answer. It all depends on how busy the circuit is. In the example given at the start of this thread, if the circuit is empty then it is perfectly reasonable and sensible to join base leg. A novice PPL reading this could get the impression that the only safe way to join a circuit is downwind. This is clearly not true, there are many ways to join the circuit and with experience you become aware of which way is best for any given circumstances. Having said that we all make mistakes, including myself, which we normally learn from. We also gain experience from unexpected scenarios, such as "positioning out of the circuit to join downwind" and meeting someone head on doing a bomber style circuit as you could do in the opening example given at the start of the thread.
Common sense and good airmanship should prevail.