Well with ignorant comments like that, Im not surprised some of us foreigners are a little cautious at calling "visual" after a 14 hr sector
Not ignorant, and not even a complaint. ATC can only work with what they're given from YOU.
If you can continue to the airport with constant ground/water visual contact, you are VISUAL. Director doesn't care if you can't quite see the runway or approach lights yet (unless you are VH- reg).
ATC game for iPhone/iPad - try Sector 33 from NASA. In 10 minutes, you will get an "aha" moment and finally understand the slowdown/speedup conundrum.
NASA - Sector 33 App for iOS