Whirly,
I had the same concern when I got my PPL and a very good instructor showed me how much I didn't know.
The plain fact is (now I've seen it all from the other side) is that 45 hrs is barely (and often not) enough to get basic competence in most of the exercises (don't forget that bloggs may also have to learn all the other subjects from scratch at the same time)and it is almost dictated that this sort of 'extra curricla' subject remains just that. It is not in the PPL H syllabus JAR (or NZ) and there is not enough time for what is.
It is only the same as getting a basic drivers licence in many ways, no one teaches you skid recovery or similar unless you specifically ask fo it and even then they'll say 'Lets get the licence first' because they want you to succeed in that without too much blurring your focus.
Happily, more and more PPL's have a good, healthy attitude towards their flying and future training (like you have) and they
are doing what the rules don't. But let's not blame the rules either, we would complain like crazy if the PPL time where doubled (as it should be IMHO)and remember the govt, state or whatever cannot wrap us in cotton wool.
If it did we'd likely suffocate anyway!
To all PPL's I firmly recommend you go and do TR problem prcedures after gaining the licence, together with regular autos, EOL hover, etc. etc. and get to the stage where YOU have confidence in your ability.
If you want to know where you can get the best possible training for TR problems then mail me (NO financial interests in UK)
Fly safely all!