I can see how some view the PPL theory as being the first module of professional groundschool, the EASA/UK regs encourage this idea. An integrated groundschool, for instance, has an ab-initio assumption and must have a min duration of 750 hours whereas a modular groundschool requires a PPL to start and has a min duration of 650 hours, this lower figure is based on the assumption that the candidate has already completed 100 hours of PPL theory instruction. In theory a modular course design can assume the candidate already has PPL theory knowledge, but no one does. Evidently the first statement is also true, the purpose of the PPL theory is to prepare the candidate to exercise the prvileges of the PPL. IMHO the flaw lies in equating required course hours with competencies achieved - but this flaw runs like a thread of poo through all the EASA training requirements and will not be overturned until they figure out a way of actually testing required knowledge and competencies effectively.