I think a lot depends on what is around, in terms of high ground or water, and how symmetrically these ground features are located relative to the track being flown.
An hour ago I did the Padova (LIPU) NDB Lctr DME approach (one of the more complicated procedures around; the IR instructor would have loved it) and the 014 NDB inbound places you well off the track. This was obvious on the GPS (which was used to fly the STAR as well as the inbound) but if all one had was the NDB then one would have ended up in a position from which a visual approach would be tricky.
Same as Shoreham 20 then
I think NDB procedures really exist to enable one to fly a GPS overlay approach officially....... but none of the retired RAF navigators in the CAA is going to acknowledge that