Though there's no way for me to actually know, I'd expect I typically wait as long --or as short-- a time as anyone else. In the grand scheme of things, sure, light-wise if nothing else, having been there any number of times previous, I knew pretty explicitly what to expect along the mile out, mile back trail in this particular place. Knowing that, and knowing the direction/orientation of particular things (to be precise, the tree that's featured in my preceding 'tree times tree' post; that was the specific thing I went to shoot) in relation to the position of the sun in this particular time of year, would help anyone, myself included. What couldn't be predicted was the sky. From home, I could see there were (finally!) some clouds, and they looked as though they could be useful. But what I couldn't see was what those clouds would or wouldn't be doing on the western horizon. At home, cliffs block
the view to that horizon, and there was no way to gauge whether there'd be clouds at all, or whether they'd be 'good' clouds or there'd be an excess of clouds that would block, mute, or somehow muddy the late afternoon light. That I wouldn't know before getting out of the valley and gaining elevation, which is not a huge distance as such, but it is nonetheless a distance.

As regards the light on that other tree, I knew (assuming some bank of clouds to the west wouldn't mess things up) I'd have a solid hour to shoot before it would go into shade some 45 minutes before actual sunset, and I based my timing (when to leave home, when to arrive at Grandview, time and distance of the hike, etc.) on that. And I pretty much nailed that. Not only that, but I had sufficient time to shoot five slightly different compositions of that (other) tree, continue to the end of the point, looking and shooting a few incidentals along the way, and return to shoot it again before it fell into shadow. The tree in this post --or more specifically, the portions of the bare branches of the detail of the tree in this post-- were not lit when I'd passed them before, and though I didn't wait around to find out, I'm sure this tree would've been unlit and in shade five minutes after I got done shooting (the five exposures I shot, intending to focus stack the lot).

Long answer that probably doesn't really answer your question. Bottom line is, sure, there's lots of time I'll wait for a particular light (usually it's a matter of waiting for a cloud to move or what have you), and other times I don't wait at all.

In your case, there is no answer that is too long. I carefully consider every point you make and try to tuck it into the appropriate data bank for processing. Many times the things you have shared with me, or others, makes something upstairs click.

Seems to me that I remember reading somewhere, that Ansel Adams would sometimes hike for days, far fewer roads, then wait all day, or several days for the correct "light". Modern technology has helped to ease and shorten both the trip and timing of the light. But I also know and see that your experience and knowledge of your surroundings has a lot to do with your success. I, and many others will continue to admire and learn from you and your work.