I think the ATL controllers do a pretty damn good job. I flew the E170 in out out of there daily for almost a year.... and once you get use to what they expect its a pretty nice "dance".... no uncommon to be at 8000' on downwind.... and be ready to get slammed with short vectors if its VFR and they can fit you in.... Having flown all over the world I really have no beef with ATL controllers... easy to understand over all pretty calm... ORD controllers are very very good... the ground guys there get their panties in a wad way too much but thats just their way!!!!

oh.. as to the OP... stabilized by 1000' IFR...500' VFR... no more than 1000'fpm rate of decent... speed no more than +10 to ref.