Ok. Look around all the time. I get that. No one disagrees. And before you enter the standard pattern you can "expect" aircraft from any direction and any altitude, but away from an airport the air is reasonably clear of traffic and you usually have a little time to notice and "see and avoid", before they run into you or you run into them. The "Big Sky".
The issue here is that the standard pattern is standard for a reason. You have more traffic going in and out, and it is a way to standardize how to get in and out efficiently and safely. You join the pattern to put you in a recognized order, and to get you to final without getting run over or running over someone else. The standard pattern is what is "expected". Getting to the pattern you have a lot of options, but once in it you are "expected" to follow the pattern at TPA. And when you are in the pattern, as you are setting up for landing, altitude, distance off the runway, airspeed, turn points, etc etc you should not have to "expect" anyone to just drop into the pattern from anywhere. You still need to see and avoid all right, but aircraft that are properly in the pattern should ordinarilly be able to "expect" to follow the pattern to the runway in the established order, and be able to spare some attention for the pre-landing checklist and landing configuration as well as spacing from the plane ahead.
This whole discussion about pattern entry seems to be split between those who think that the requirement to "see and avoid" means they ought to be free to do anything since everyone else ought to be looking out for them; and those who think the normal established protocols for how to do things are a good idea and ought to be followed. The fact that at some airports a lot of people do a lot of unusual things, does not make that a good idea. In fact, several threads here have been very critical of pilots who make a wrong decision while in the pattern.
A normal pattern entry is on the 45. That is where you set up for landing at pattern altitude and begin a route of flight that will be followed by just about everyone else. Getting to the 45 you can be at just about any altitude and from just about any direction (except right through the pattern I would hope) so "see and avoid", and the "Big Sky" helps avoid problems. If you do ANYTHING else but a 45 entry, you ought to make your actions fit into the existing flow of traffic seamlessly. Enough air separation so the people in the pattern do not have to do a 360 for spacing, or extend a downwind, or any other possible "out" to avoid trouble. If they need to use an "out" because you dropped into the pattern at a non-standard place, you did it wrong.
So, "see and avoid" all the time. But use standard entry unless the pattern is empty or you can do it without ANYONE having to take action to avoid YOU as a result. The acceptability of a non-standard entry ought to be about the probability of THAT, not a rationalization about "see and avoid" responsibility. That is my opinion, and I am sticking to it.
