Icebound wrote:

Do not high-volume airports prefer "local procedures" that encourage
cruise or near-cruise for the small types until just about base turn, just
to keep the traffic from backing up???

I don't know about it being as well-defined as a "local procedure", but I've
been told to keep the speed up on final at some airports in the past
(Teterboro comes to mind). That's not always the best choice, though, and
I'm sure ATC knows it. On approach into Albany last week, I was able to
turn off quite early. If I'd been told to keep my speed up, I'd have
floated much farther.

Keeping the speed up is actually fun at the airports where it happens, as
there's plenty of runway for a slow-motion flair.

- Andrew