Before this gets off track and not comparing apples & apples: we're not talking about visuals yes/no; the discussion drifted from its original question into whether PAPI's are required to conduct a visual, ref the circling chart in France. It then drifted into whether a competent pilot needs glidepath guidance to conduct a visual, and further into whether they are necessary at night.
1. A competent pilot should be able to make a visual approach in daytime without glideslope guidance.
2. There'll be very very few runways serving commercial jet traffic that do not have glideslope guidance.
3. Visuals at night are not a problem., but certainly safer with glideslope guidance; and a mandatory requirement by many operators.
4. ergo; circling a commercial jet at low height is safer with glideslope guidance due to the much shortened finals, and at night is certainly a likely safety requirement. Circling in a dark hole is not a smart idea.
5. Visuals move more tin; assuming competence and lack of GA's.
6. A visual circuit is commenced at a height = to or > circuit height, therefore higher than circling.
Are we in agreement?