The inbound situation can be just as fuel critical as outbound. We are often operating to "coastal" TAFs which allow us to do away with an alternate as you will know. If you then get held it is really helpful to know for how long it is going to be, especially if it looks like the weather could close in at any moment due to say, a very large snow shower. In the recent conditions, a VFR approach is preferable to being in the pattern at 2500' getting nicely iced up. You may like to take a trip in a Puma with 30-40mm of ice on it - its not a bundle of fun especially when it starts to come off!
Why are people getting more excitable? Perhaps it is the end (hopefully) of one of the worst winters in 30 years and we are getting a little tired
