WWW - sadly our military training has degenerated rapidly in recent years. The useless T67 and Grob, the clapped-out Jetstream, Tucanos and Hawks forever U/S......
ME trg using the PA-34 is not new; 6 students were put through BAeS at PWK a few years ago. They've all done pretty well, although the FIs were surprised at their poor theoretical knowledge of UK airspace regulations etc - and they worked much harder than their Jetstream colleagues did!
We also had a brief period of ME training on the Beech Baron at Hamble when the 'Pig' was going out of service and the lousy Jetstream was grounded - that seemed to work.
But your overall analysis is, regrettably, quite correct.