Slightly off topic but it is interesting to note the stark contrast between PANS OPS circling areas and TERPS. For cat C, they are 4.2nm and 1.7nm (from that article) respectively.
You need to compare like with like. The categories are different. My (fairly small) medium jet is Cat C under PANS-OPS; under TERPS we are Cat C for a straight-in but Cat D for circling. Max speed for circling Cat C is 135 knots, which makes it not too hard to stay within 1.7 miles.
If my memory serves me right one is required to complete circle to land on a clean wing as well as per TERPS for the initial type.
I think your memory is failing you. This would require circling at around 200 knots for many aircraft....
And I certainly did all my initial types circling in the appropriate configuration.