but I thought that losing 1000 ft for every NM forward
On the classic that's about as steep as you can readily get (FI, gear down, flap 25) for descent onto final ... makes a circuit a doddle .. over the upwind threshold at 10,000ft and a circuit to end up nicely in the slot and spun up as you roll out onto final ... regular practice into Cairns from Darwin in bumpy conditions.