I always considered it fun. Drop the gear, set the flaps, bring in a
*lot* of power, and hope you don't have any easily excitable
passengers.

Maybe I'm misunderstanding you, but don't you extend the gear before you start
to circle? The way I fly (and teach) non-precision approaches is to configure
the airplane no later than a mile or two before the final approach fix. So
when you hit the FAF you're at the proper power setting to maintain level
flight for the configuration and speed that you want on final (typically 90
knots). At the FAF, reducing power by 7" (or 500 rpm with a fixed pitch prop)
and pitching down slightly should establish a 700 fpm descent at the trimmed
airspeed. At 100 feet above MDA, increase power back to what it was at the
FAF, pitch up slightly, and you should level off about 50 feet above MDA.
Then you can nibble away to descend the last 50 feet and look for the airport.