What speed and how you get it...
I'm afraid I've too often heard that 65 is the magic number used by PPL holders for an approach, unless it's windy when they add a few more knots. But very few will tell you their stall speed for their actual landing weight. It's a shame really because as the OP suggested, getting the speed right for an approach is critical. But right in this context means getting it "Goldilocks" right; not too fast and not too slow, just right.
As to how you get there, I'm in the Farley camp. Yes, I do adjust the pitch when I change speed, but the speed is controlled by use power or adjusting the airbrakes. The pitch adjustment is required to maintain or correct the approach angle. And as John pointed out, how do you correct an under-speed close to the ground? Lastly, what happens when you side slip? If you are too slow do you lower the nose or stop the slip?
PM