For predictive work I use profection first and foremost;
then SR, then simple symbolic progressions and transits
(I use profection-conditioned transits but that's another story)
So my experiences with the nodes
(and I must admit, mostly with the South Node)
is nearly completely limited to these techniques
rather than specifically to nodal returns.
I could provide many examples of the action of nodes in the predictive models I use
(mentioned above), but can, off hand, think of only 2 specifically involving nodal returns:
my own, and that of my late wife.
But each (experienced) practitioner must decide by a review of their own cases,
if "proof" on any nodal return influence exists or not:
limited examples given in a forum thread really don't "prove" anything,
because the charge of "coincidence" can always be levelled against such limited examples:
only a statistically significant, randomly chosen sample
(of at least 200 randomly chosen charts),
tested for evidence of nodal return influences, could tend
(and only tend)
to answer the "give me proof" demand.
That's why I say,
if one wishes to test this nodal return matter
(or indeed any astrological matter),
for one's own edification, then
the practitioner should go over their collection of charts
and see whether or not
substantial evidence of nodal return influences can be discerned.
One must also realize that there is rarely only one celestial influence triggering any event:
I follow Charles Carter
(and others)
in believing that it almost always requires a confluence
of similar celestial operative influences acting together
-at least a couple of them
-in order to "cause" something
-one influence alone will rarely trigger on its own.
I believe that nodal returns can be one of those influences...