Notice, please, that I wrote "A pattern". Doesn't have to be THE pattern, or the Beginner Pattern, or the OTS Pattern. Just going out there and making chit up will eventually lead to brain fade and indecison at a critical time. If you do THE pattern and know for a fact that you have fuel to do a couple of outsides to unwind your lines, go for it. If you're not sure, fly level. I don't think it makes sense to do anything after the pattern for an official flight, but there are some that do it. I'd rather concentrate on a great entry into a good glide path, into as good a landing as I can manage. Trying to manage the best I can, with my limited ability.
For example, I've watched PTG fly many laps, very high, appearing to be praying, not looking at the plane at all until the engine coughs. I asked him why he did that. He said that he crashed once doing tricks on an official after the pattern, and won't take the risk again. He flies better than I do, so I figured I'd learn from his example.
I'm afraid this has become a bit of "thread drift", but maybe it's also on topic. Charles' thread; he can decide.
Steve