Originally Posted by
oicur12.again
"Elsewhere, the controller would have to monitor the number 1 aircraft, until it vacates the runway"
Isn't that the precise intent behind the term "clear to land". This is why I think it should be rephrased to "permission" to land as it has not been checked to be clear as the controller "has other duties".
I get what you're saying, but the way it seems to work, is that the controller lets the well oiled machine almost run itself, only interjecting when necessary.
At some busy airports here (even the class D airports), it's not uncommon to land and switch to ground without specifically being told to do so. Even so, when told to call ground, you'll typically hear "contact ground point eight".
The system is set up for efficiency, and it works well. Again, I can easily see how someone who has never flown in the US can think that it's dangerously unorthodox, but it
does work.