I am now on the 744, but was previously on the 319/320/321 fleet at LHR for a local operator (so that makes me BA!).
I frequently offered to take a 'land after' clearance if the circumstances were appropriate (and ATC were usually happy enough to grant it) when (and because) I was happy with the separation, I knew performance of the aircraft I was flying, it obviated the lack of landing clearance due comms/blocked freq
etc.
I hope that this process helped both me and ATC to operate efficiently.
Translating this process to places I now fly on the 744, after a 11 hour shift, at less familiar airports, is more difficult, and the company concensus is to request vectors to an ILS.
I do not disagree. LH and SH are different due both familiarity and practice and body clock.