While quick little entries can work under ideal conditions, I could put a guy in a jet at 250kts and 10k, 3 miles N of POM and say 'cleared direct to POM, cleared for the approach'
it happens, and would be fun to see him try to scrub off 6k and 100 kt in a tear drop that over POM at 250kts to stay in protected airspace, he has to start turning right away in bound for the intercept.
Chances are he will be flying down the approach high and fast, and might not make the FAF at gear speed. Throw in a little malfunction, turn up the heat, and he might be wishing he took the circuit to slow down, read a checklist, get set up for the circle to land, get some winds, oops, didn't turn on the runway lights...thats why he couldn't find the runway...
I might add that if ATC has someone on the approach, and you hot dog it, ATC might slow you down having expected the circuit....I might also add that if you are a charter, or corporate, and this is a new approach with mountains all around, maybe single pilot, it wouldn't hurt my feelings to take things slow, and go around once to make sure your set up right, especially if it's down to minimums and the runway is short.
And on that note, I had a client that told me that he didn't want me using speed brakes, scared the kids, so there ya go...dropping in at 5k a minute with the plane chattering isn't in his program.....and you take the circuit if your high.