Personally, when landing a helicopter I transfer my view to fairly close by, it let's me judge any movement more accurately. Horses for courses.
I certainly wouldn't be staring at a ribbon if doing something like a pick up., I would be "looking through it". The problem when you are staring at an object is that you generally tend to hit it. Try it in a car or on a bike. If you stare at the kerb in a corner, then you'll go to it, whereas if you look through the corner to where you want to go, then that is what'll happen and it's a lot smoother.