...it's a compromise isn't it. A long enough "final" to stabilise the aircraft, and enough of a turn, and a close enough turn, to allow adjustment. Not squarer however. Much easier with the military style constant aspect circuit than the civilian rectangular ones.
Yes, of course. I like and use the constant aspect approach but I used 'squarer' to differentiate from the more usual, distinctly rectangular one which, it seems to me, overly relies on having power to adjust the path. Not necessarily available in a forced landing situation.