GF
I'd put "position and hold" in the bizarre category simply because, as you rightly say, there is a better phrase available and yet in all the years I've been flying the FAA have not taken it up.
You raise an interesting point about "number 9 cleared to land". There are places in the world where, subject to certain conditions, an aircraft can land on an already occupied runway. Is it the case that at all US airports if the preceeding traffic is still on the runway (but far enough down to be of no concern) that I have to go around, even if I have been told "cleared to land number 9"? The phraseology used, combined with experience gained by a pilot in other parts of the world, may lead to an unexpected outcome for the controller.
As for LAHSO... well anyone who uses that must be barking (in my humble opinion of course!!!)
G W-H