I agree with your drift, Beagle, but
Which is pretty well EVERYONE in the UK PPL world, whether pilot or instructor.
isn't quite right, because every new PPL since c. 2000 is a JAA one, and only about 10% to 20% of PPLs have historically gone on to get the IMCR.
We could have a debate (pointless one due to the CAA not releasing the essential data) on the churn rate of the PPL population but I think the majority of active UK PPLs are probably under JAA, and most of them don't have an IMCR.
Of course, if this lead to more people operating on 'flag of convenience' FAA licences with FAA IRs and N-registered aeroplanes, you can bet your bottom dollar (or euro) that the Eurocrats will start looking at 'residency' requirements and import re-registration requirements.....
Well quite, which is why IMHO looking at this rationally is pointless. Any new EASA license proposals must inevitably be wrapped in what sort of carrot can be offered to FAA PPL/IR holders to get them back into the fold. Otherwise, there is no point in EASA doing anything - beyond relabelling a JAA PPL with an "EASA PPL" label.