Neil M35 wrote:The ideal in orienteering would be no kites at all so that you have to navigate to the feature, rather than navigating to within 50 metres and then heading for the nearest kite (Graeme style).
I'd probably agree but as always we don't have an ideal world. Nobody no matter how good they are or think they are at reading the map on the run can run as fast as they can not looking at the map. Therefore the less you look at the map without making mistakes the faster you go. Therefore it's only natural that having orienteered for n years the same way e.g. getting within x metres and spotting a kite on the right sort of feature, it's going to be a culture change. Good or bad I'm not sure, but definite change in my opinion.
I like you Neil have done a reasonable amount of control hanging for junior tours etc and as you say it's an ideal, but I don't orienteer in the same way while racing, and a third way at night. All 3 types require practice!