My serious licence is a wondrous document, on parchment, with coloured crest and embossed seal, Bishop's autograph in real ink (not facsimile), and valid till age 70. "Triennial flight reviews" are required to keep it current.
Now, if the CAA/JAA produced a document like that, people might not complain about the cost of a PPL, and might even frame it and hang it on the wall!