Question their navigation abilities or not, but these people are in the
pattern. Remember, there are student pilots and they don't know which
way anything is. Don't believe me? Do a google search on "landing
pattern computer" and look at the products. Someone is buying these
things.

I don't mean to be snobbish about it, either. When you're learning to
fly, there's a lot of cope with, and orienting onseself with an airport
traffic pattern is not immediately second nature.

That said, I tried making VFR-comprehensible position reports when I
was working on my instrument, and my CFII scolded me for it. He was
right at the time; I had enough work to do to fly the procedure
correctly. However, today, I usually do it anyway.

-- dave j