Horatio - It's cr@p as you suggest, but I did hear a whisper that those requirements have or were about to change. I haven't had a chance to check it yet.
It hadn't changed as of two weeks ago, at least.
Out of all of them I think the most stringent is Instructor Rating Testing Approval?
The CPL requirements make a bit of sense (extensive RPL, PPL testing experience).
The NVFR Testing Approval is a bit odd though.