The snag with the ACR-7 (Search only), I recall, was that the antenna had a fairly narrow beam in the vertical plane which the controller tilted to get the best picture. So when conducting a Surveillance Radar Approach (SRA) the tilt to get a good picture for that function [up, to minimise ground clutter] would preclude the other controller [doing Director] from getting a decent longer-range picture for
his task. Danny will undoubtedly elaborate!
Your Polish ATCO at Colerne exemplified the special breed of talk down operators. It was (and maybe is still?) a magnificent confidence trick, whereby we were able to tell pilots what to do with conviction!!
In truth, you would soon get your reputation tarnished if "Look ahead and take over visually" presented the pilot with a view of a large of expanse of grass without either runway or lights! I had the odd occasion as an aircraft approached break-off when that standard RT message was immediately followed by "Keep Talking" … but then back then we were allowed to pass advisory information after Break-Off, so we just carried on talking all the way to the radar markers at touchdown. In later years it was just "Talkdown Out" at Decision Height or whatever, and you were left on your own … to either land or go around.