Nah, it makes no sense whatsoever.
Why should a modular student have to hold a PPL before he takes the ATPL exams, when an integrated guy can start the ATPL theory and take all of the exams dispite in many cases having never ever flown a plane?
Is someone who has never flown a plane really in a position to understand fully the ATPL material, with no flying experience to refer to?
Does the integrated system therefore compromise pilots knowledge an understanding of aviation and ultimately therefore compromise flight safety?
In my opinion the modular system needs revamping. People should be allowed to do the ATPL exams first before doing their PPL, and therefore be exempt from the 7ppl exams.
Mind you, then the only difference between a mod course and an integrated course would be that a mod guy would have to take a PPL skills test b4 doing his CPL training and test, the integrated guy would not. It would hardly then be worth making a distinction between the two routes, would it?
The upshot of all this, abolish integrated courses!