Dubuque controllers seem to firmly believe that they are
"controlling" traffic inside their airspace

Do they accept responsibility for separation?

But at least [uncontrolled] we're all expecting the same thing from each other,
rather than having a binocular-equipped controller trying to send us in
different directions.

I seem to remember you having diatribes against pilots who don't "fly
the pattern" at uncontrolled airports too. Controllers have more than
binoculars - they have pencil and paper, and minds. They don't just
"send you in different directions" (though I had one at EMT that sent
me almost all around the airport to approach from the other side).
They do so with a purpose. Sometimes, like anybody, they make errors.

almost every time I fly
into busy non-radar Class D airspace, I witness something stupid and/or
borderline dangerous.

Either you fly in wild places, or you have a different threshold of
"stupid/dangerous".

What makes [split patterns] wrong in non-radar Class D airspace is the fact that the
controller is still relying on each of us seeing each other for proper
spacing. Since he's directed half the traffic to fly an opposing pattern,
spotting the correct plane in the sky is problematic.

That has never been a problem with me. I have just as much difficulty
finding traffic in my pattern as in the opposite one. Sometimes the
opposite pattern is easier to spot. And in any case, when they say
"you're number 4" I look for three airplanes. When they say "You're
number 24" I'm glad we have a controller helping out.

Jose
--
Freedom. It seemed like a good idea at the time.
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