Bruce -

Except there's a flaw in your logic. You correctly point out that a
minimum height at a steering turn before the finish could put people
on a glide-path to make the airport. But doesn't stop them from
screaming in at low altitude (as you point out). And given how far
gliders can fly in ground-effect, your argument for long, safe
approaches would mean clearing a few MILES around the airport. Its
just not practical.

Wouldn't a minimum height of 500 feet or so across the finish-line fix
this? There's ZERO incentive to come in low if you're going to lose
points for it. Yes, it doesn't stop a pilot from doing something
stupid; but you can never make things idiot-proof. All you can do is
reduce the incentives to make bad decisions - and a minimum height
removes any incentive for trying to squeak in, for all but a few
instances.

--Noel