"Many of us have seen aircraft going the wrong way in a circuit; that is a good reason for joining correctly, i.e. a standard overhead join where you can observe what is going on, and avoid the dangerous situation of joining directly and getting it wrong. If everyone flew a correct size circuit others would see them and know what they are doing."
The Overhead Join was 'STANDARD' in the days when non-radio and signals squares were the norm. There's no way these days that it could be described as standard. Many airfields have no deadside. What then?
If there's a left-hand circuit, put the airfield on your left, get onto the reciprocal of the runway in use. (i.e. for a landing on 24 put 24 at the bottom of the DI), and as if by magic you'll find yourself downwind.
Simple.