I couldn't help get engulfed by this very informative discussion, being an intermediate RC flier with no FS experience. But I think the FS and Pattern guys are talking PAST each other. The bottom line disagreement might be a simple case of semantics. The FS guys are saying do rudder only briefly to correct for the drift, whereas the Pattern guys are saying HOLD the rudder continously. All other opinions and facts mentioned here are not in disagreement, as I have seen so far.

So, if you guys want, you can keep arguing and dragging this down to silliness, but the real disagreement seems to be the DURATION of rudder deflection to counteract sidewind. I'm sure the OP and other beginners would appreciate that, including myself.