QDM,
agree with your suggestion about precautionary landings being part of the PPL training, and if common sense prevailed we would be able to use unlicensed farmstrips for this practice, rather than just a field. but we know the common stuff will never prevail, and we will not be allowed to practice this potentially life saving skill.
getting back to the original post, one of the best lessons i ever had was a bad weather circuit in snow, with the CFI in the RHS. the short final was at 45 deg to the numbers, with a low turn over the hedge to line up. had to do one in good viz for my test, the examiner just told me where he wanted me to turn, and how high to fly it.