My local airfield, Lasham, is PPR for good reason. It is a very busy gliding site (10,000+ movements PA) using both aerotow and winch simultaniously. We also regularly have movements of 757s, 767s etc.
We are not licenced and the chap on the radio is probly standing at the launchpoint with a hand held radio so even if he can hear your call you probably wont hear his reply until you are in the circuit.
Overhead joins are not recommended as we often have winch cables to well over 2000ft
The main runway is not normally used by the gliders. Circuits in both directions are normal landing on the grass the apropriate side of the runway.
There is a use for PPR
Nigel