It's great that he did the flying he did. It's great that he did go and look at the RAF and get an insight into how others are trained.
But if he didn't earn wings, then his being awarded them surely devalues the badge.
And don't you have to complete EFTS and BFTS to get wings, at the moment (there was a time, IIRC, when you had to finish AFTS at Valley, wasn't there?) or get to the equivalent stage at Shawbury (Griffin?)? Wings are hard-earned and that's why they're accorded the respect they are. They imply that the wearer has qualified and is competent, and there is an inference that they have some specific competences in formation and instrument flying, etc.
And isn't there an alternative? Could he not have been awarded the PFB? What are the qualifications for that, now?
So how many hours, dual and solo, did he fly in the respective types? Tutor, Tucano, Squirrel?
And what's next? Perhaps a single stroll across Dartmoor and he can have a green beret and commando dagger? Or a day's classroom teaching and a tower jump and he can put up para wings? And wouldn't a DFC and an AFC look nice under those wings. Why not blur the qualifications for those, as well?