I think maybe the Americans have it right here
"Landing Clearance - Expect to receive landing clearances with one or more aircraft
still ahead of your aircraft. The clearance you are receiving is to land in sequence if it
is safe to do so. This sort of landing clearance requires special vigilance at night."
The above is a quote from BA's Route Information Manual.
The US system is alien at first, but on reflection, it puts the onus back in the flight deck. On the rare occasion that there is a blocked mic and a specific late clearance is not received it works well, you have already been cleared to land if it is deemed safe.
It is not dis-similar to the LHR 'land after' clearance, which when I flew the Airbus I was happy to receive (and even asked for on occasion), in that it gives the captain the decision.