Funny thing is, in the Airlines we do a "heavy" circuit with a 2 mile offset from centerline at 1500' and roll out on a 2 mile final.
For airline cadets to learn properly they need to do 1000' circuits at the same angle so closer than 1.5 miles.
It's all about the instructors and their instructors etc teaching crap over many years!
This was going on 30 years ago and will no doubt continue.