PJ2:
I think the safety of the circling maneuver was a lesser consideration primarily because we know that the maneuver, though of higher risk, can still be done safely under the correct training and checking regimes. I did many Canarsie approaches onto 13R at JFK in the DC9, DC8 and L1011 and loved flying every one of them but that was a time when we trained for and did circling approaches regularly. No longer.
Canarsie = late base to final while descending along a well-marked path with the lead-in lights and probably runways in sight at MDA. Not remotely close to a CTL to the reciprocal runway, such as with the accident at issue.