re non flying abroad with NPPL, if you go the NPPL M route, and some of the modern " microlights" are as good if not better then the "old" GA machines
you can fly to Europe, no problem at all, correct if you go the NPPL SEP route.
you cannot fly abroad,
the Exams are the same, the hours required is less, and if the NPPL M route is taken, as the machines are cheaper, so is the training, considerably,
I for one, can't see that I would want an IMC or Night rating,