Thinking AoA is all well and good, but relative to what? It needs to be airflow, but the brain doesn't sense that too well without reference to a gauge. All it sees is attitude and that doesn't take into consideration the vertical airspeed, which whilst decending increases the AoA relative to the 'conventionally percieved' AoA (i.e. attitude) This is possibly why stall/spin accidents on turning final are not as rare as they should be.
When I was practicing PFL's I was surprised initially that I felt like I had to dive at the ground when rolling on bank for a turn in order to maintain airspeed. IMHO, the reasons behind this were not adequately explained/reinforced in my training and hence it was something I 'learnt by experience' rather than was expecting to see and experience from theory.
A