IO540,
I'm not sure I agree with your argument about the night qualification, although I can definitely see where you are coming from. In many parts of the country, including the whole of south-east England for example (where a majority of UK pilots fly), it is perfectly possible to fly at night without any instrument experience.
In other areas, though, your point is far more valid, and instructors (and schools) must have some kind of moral obligation to impress this upon pilots. The school in Phoenix where I did my hour-building wouldn't let any non-instrument rated pilot, regardless of experience, fly their aircraft to the north at night, for example.
FFF
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