Still, Ken, isn't it nice to know that, at your home field, certain controllers develop the confidence (from working you in the past) that you can be offered a mildly aggressive arrival without it being dangerous? I know that I have, lately, been given short approaches when I get home from trips, when I would in the past have been number four behind a gaggle of returning 172s.
I'm at TPA, abeam, and they ask me whether I can accept a short approach- a quick, "yes" (because I anticipated it and am configured and slowed down appropriately), and a smooth (ish) continuous turn to short final, touch on the numbers and off at the second turn off (it is a Bonanza). Kinda cool.
It's the confidence that they can offer you the option, you can accept it, and you can evaluate whether it will work, all without putting anyone at risk.