My only real experience with writing has been within the context of post to play fan-fiction where the world is already established (and stolen from another author). In that context I have no problem doing what you suggest because it's quite easy to create a character in someone else's world and to follow them through their day and create drama and interest as you go along. (At least I've always found that easy.)
The problem with that exercise is that you have to have the rule of the world your characters live in firmly in place. I guess I've answered my own question. My problem is with world building.