I think it is unusual, but not unheard of. As Genghis says, there's a lot of 'it depends'.
With respect to (ever) being assured of the landing, gliders do it all the time. Essentially you're staying higher than a best glide profile for the whole approach and throwing away the energy late on.
Gliders do it by flying half airbrake (or spoiler), and having the option to open more to descend, or close to essentially 'climb' on the profile.
I've only flown a stopped prop approach once (instructor request) and a lot of idle approaches. The technique is similar - stay high (but not too high) throughout to keep a margin, slip, take flap (or in extremes, S turn) on final to kill energy and (assuming plenty of runway) aim 1/3 into the field, NOT for the numbers. That way a little unplanned sink means taking the flap later, or maybe landing short of your aim point, rather than in the hedge.
If the trees are getting a bit too big you can always cut the corner, and if it's looking really bad land on any available bit of grass, even crosswind. Few a/c in private use are going to fall apart if presented with grass, the runway is not an absolute requirement, and airfields are usually more likely to be obstruction free than the surrounding fields. Rather dramatic for an exercise mind you!