EGPFlyer & BOAC
My understanding of the rules and regs are exactly as you have quoted.
ie: If I am "expecting" to land with less than final reserve, I request a "priority approach". My understanding is that ATC do not "accept" that statement to afford me priority handling and then would reply along the lines of...
"...are you declaring an emergency?"
Well, I am not declaring a "Mayday" as I have not got down to less than final reserve fuel, and so therefore can only declare a "PAN".
I was not under the impression that declaring just a "PAN" was sufficient to get you prioirty approach given these circumstances....
...this of course doesn't even take into consideration flying to countries that do not even recognise the word "pan" and if you ever used it, you would be met with complete and utter silence from the foreign controller.