The difference is that in 2001 UKFT were approved by the CAA to train for the JAA PPL, now they are not. Only the parties involved know why they are not but I would guess that UKFT thought they could con gullible wannabees with their 'Compliant PPL' rubbish without the need to pay the costs of approval. Now that people are getting wise to it, don't be surprised to see UKFT applying for approval again.
There are plenty of options in the USA and elsewhere to train for a JAA PPL at a properly approved school, and even more options to train for a non-JAA PPL which, as clamb correctly points out, can be used freely by day in UK registered aeroplanes, and not limited to UK airspace.