Non-PC Plod,
Thanks for asking the question to CAA and sharing their response as that has confirmed my understanding of things from EU Ops 1 subpart E:
All non-precision approaches shall be flown using the continuous descent final approaches (CDFA) technique unless
otherwise approved by the Authority for a particular approach to a particular runway.
Edit: note that EU Ops 1 is fixed wing... still trying to work out the definitive answer for helicopters...
Basically, unless the approach plate specifically states that it is a non-CDFA approach (eg NDB at Norwich and Manston) then you don't get a choice whether to choose to fly the "dive and drive" technique, you must use the CDFA technique, regardless of if the minima for the NPA are depicted as a MDA or DA.
army_av8r makes an important point - you should be planning your descent to the runway threshold, NOT to the beacon, after all you should be planning to continue your approach to land to a long strip of tarmac, not a bunch of aerials!
However I don't agree that this technique is the correct one for use by RW. If I know the weather is a bit rubbish and on the limits then I can reduce my approach speed to 60 kts and normally make an unhurried approach to the far end of the runway if I need to. If the above is CAA's view then they need to have a think about the specific needs of the RW community and not try apply a once size (doesnt) fit all rule.