my passenger wondered why I kept changing the power settings
I remember vividly my first lesson in landing: "One hand on the power, one hand on the stick and I want to see your eyes moving from the air speed to the runway. Use the stick to adjust your speed and your power to sort out the height". Now I know there's plenty of debate about the last bit, but unless it's completely calm with no ups and downs, I can't really see how you can always give yourself a half-decent chance of a good landing
without changing/adjusting the power in the final descent.