thumpango
It's a very good idea to go fly with another instructor a
few times when you are a student (and beyond)
because he/she might do things differently. Plenty of normal instructors out there with weird ideas. As everybody says, ask them why and decide for yourself.
Never heard of the downwind into the sun one. Are you supposed to fly a non standard pattern? There are problems with that too, especially if everybody else is flying downwind into the sun because they have never heard of that one
That pesky sun, it's amazing flight is permitted when it's shining
Didn't you have a question some time back about what airspeed to fly on short final? If so, you really are finding them!!!
Cheers