The statement "In circumstances where previous flying training towards an ICAO PPL(A) has been completed but no licence has been issued....." is the point I wish to have clarified. Does it mean that the entire course of training must have been completed, or just that 'some' training had been completed?
It seems that the main difference is that it is now PLD who makes the assessment, rather than the CFI. Personally I would advise anyone in this situation to take an assessment ride with the CFI of wherever the JAR-FCL school is before sending off the paperwork to PLD so that he/she can lend an authoritative airborne assessment to assist PLD's decision.
Puerile remarks about the NPPL are nihil ad rem. Industry said that they wanted it - and the CAA has devolved most of the discretion to industry. It is also the model upon which the EASA recreational PPL is likely to be based.
There are probably good and bad instructors both in the USA and the UK - and probably on Mars as well!