Just to add another rough generalisation to the thread, I also don't use the vsi in the circuit area (unless I am on my bfr on downwind trying to nail circuit height within a foot or two!) and rely on the outside picture.
(I do use the vsi a lot when doing point to point flights though, using the good old iPad or gps I get my estimated time left and then get the height I want to drop for example 10 minutes to go and 4000 feet to drop to get to overflight height means I will sit the vsi on 400ft/minute loss and arrive right where I want to be to join or overfly. But have never used it to work out my base or final legs.)
You will find once you pull the power any parts of the runway (or paddocks for that matter!) that move up your windscreen are beyond your glide range and any parts that move down the windscreen are under your glide and the part of the ground that stays stationary is the bit where you will roughly hit (kiss). Of course you can do different things to change the result, side slip or turn or add power ect, but it really is a good way to get a picture of where you are heading early on.