It's interesting that most users will use the linear scale but...

It's interesting that most users will use the linear scale but change to the log scale only for long term charts because it is more meaningful/logical/visually appealing (?) to do so. If it's good enough for the long term why is not just as good for the shorter term ?
The 1987 crash is a good example. More dramatically presented in log scale and rightly so as anyone that experienced it will still remember. That's because it was not the actual number of points but the percentage change that was significant, and it's the log scale that brings that to the fore. The linear scale plays down the earlier price movements on a chart the higher price moves over time. Given enough time and much higher prices in the indices the 2007/2008 downturn will seem like a blip.

I am happy to be in the minority and not use what most players do

At the end of the day and for our trading purposes this discussion for the most part could be academic.  What is truly crucial is the ability to recognize soon enough a change in character in the pattern of trading, bringing together all the pieces of evidence in our own chosen methodology. The breaking of a particular line placement (a sloping one not being as important as horizontal) being just one of those pieces in the puzzle.