All engines respond well to a gentle touch, particularly when power reduction is needed. It keeps the temperature changes more gradual. I try to arrive in the VFR pattern at reduced power, on speed, and then fly it tight, traffic permitting. There is a real sense of satisfaction when one masters the art of the quiet, precise arrival. Windy days require more thought, as does heavy traffic.
Good players can pull it off.
The best example of superb power and pattern management occurred while I was riding in the back of a Boeing 727 descending out of 31,000 feet for a landing in Wichita. There was not a lot of traffic and the weather was good VFR, so ATC wasn't a confounding factor. The captain knew his aircraft intimately and added drag just when needed. The power was constant from FL310 until he reduced it for touchdown. When I left the Boeing, I complimented him, and the smile was something to behold.