From CHN (China) Operations perspective.
Ok - all very good points given and the big liability is the individual AIP's of each country. Too easy to miss something and then find yourself in deep serious trouble.
I was trying to apply this question to Foreigners operating med./hvy. AC in CHN (always positive radar control and under IFR Flt. Planning).
In CHN their is no noise monitoring!
However ATC does pay very close attention to your separation from AC and terrain.
All Apch, Dep., and Airport Controllers are Civi's under the jurisdiction of the military.
So in short I would never accept the liability of requesting a "Straight-in", nor a visual in day Ops. (Night visual forbidden) unless it is a simple base to final turn and one see's all and is familiar with the AP.
Also in CHN every airline monitors each flight via QAR data more then your wife would check your mobile phone bill.
Thanks all.