Keygrip
I am sure you are right but the stuff still has to be a superset of the CAA/JAA syllabus, in order to generate a valid JAA PPL at the end.
I don't think one needs to go to laser guided bombs, do you?
Foxmoth
Are you pulling my leg? The circular slide rule, dead reckoning, etc.
To be fair, there is no easy solution because most planes that most PPL holders can get into are frankly crap, so one has to teach people how to fly them with very little in the panel [that works].
But maybe one day, when the old metal has finally corroded up and fallen apart, things will be able to move on. I don't hold out much hope, because the present Cesspit/Piper fleet will be "flyable" for another 20-30 years.