Mary
i totally agree with you on the antiquated and out of date over head join.
It harps back to the days of non radio aircraft with minimal navigation equipment who needed to go over head and were pure VFR with minimal navigation aids
Firstly to be sure they were in the right place, to view the runways and read the signal square and look at the wind sock.
For me the OH join increases collision risk mixing high wing and low wing aircraft all making blind 90 degree turns and all homing into one spot like honey bees over an airfield.
flying straight in why make up to six extra blind 90 degree turns to end up in the position you were already in? why make your PAX uncomfortable and why add needless time to an already expensive flight.
Why mix fast and slow high and low wing together? its all a collision risk?
Very few aircraft do not have GPS and accurate DME readouts. so many of our regulations are still stuck in by gone eras which are not relevant today.
I too had to take avoiding action when an aircraft attempted an OH joint at 1200 feet with a 1400 foot cloud base cutting through the down wind leg
Oh well the wheels of aviation turn very slowly and are stuck in the past
Pace