I joined on base the other day (for a 07). Another aeroplane inbound from Bournemouth got on the radio and said "are we allowed to join on base?"....I think having a dig at me. The A/G op affirmed. I was hoping he'd come and find me to remonstrate
However if they had bothered to check up on airfield procedures, a base leg, or straight in join is
prefered due to noise abaitment. In fact MANY airfield have "non standard" procedures. Try doing an overhead join at Old Sarum on a weekday and you'll meet a Eurofighter coming the other way....
Also many ATC fields don't care if you do a straight in. Last time I went to Lands End ATC said "you can either do an overhead join or a straight in join". I opted for the straight in as it saves messing around in the most dangerous place in the sky (overhead an airfield, where most midairs occur).
I don't really care about "who is first" and don't suffer from air rage. If I have to give way so we don't collide then fine.