Looks like you guys covered it all pretty well. All I can add is "what's needed" might have to be defined a bit more for newer pilots. For example, one notch of flaps in the pattern is meant to create some drag on faster fliers (a 150 or 172 doesn't need that). The reasons behind this are two fold--you don't want to fly too fast in the pattern, and you don't want to fly slower by flying with the RPM too low if you can help it (too low an RPM increases your chances of carb ice, engine loading up, over cooling, etc.).The other side of the coin (and proverbial forces of flight) is you don't want to add more flaps than is necessary or prudent. While what's necessary can be defined by how much engine power is required to drag it in or your altitude, I tend to go with what's prudent and that depends on whether you can glide to the airport if you suddenly lose power. Being a by-the-book kind of guy, I instruct my students to land with full flaps regardless of the wind (the FAA recommends that full flaps should be used for all normal landings unless the manufacturer suggests otherwise), because I think the advantages of full flap landings out weigh the disadvantages (lower stall speed, lower landing speed, lower AOA upon approach and landing vs. more things to do in a go-around), but as always, go with what your POH and instructor recommend. Some pilots argue that partial flap landings are safer, but I'm of the belief that speed kills (actually the sudden deacceleration/stop) so the slower you are when you touchdown, the better (the low fatality rate in gliders is attributed to their lower speeds). High winds? Even better because your groundspeed will be lower yet.
When it comes to instrument approaches, there are two schools of thought regarding flaps--I like to call them the optimist and pessimist approach (pardon the pun). What differentiates the two is whether the aircraft is more configured to land or to make the missed approach (me, call me a pessimist when it comes to approaches), but I think we're straying from the original intent of the thread so I'll end here.
Hope this helps!
Ben
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