“The whole "PPL training culture" is to fly below 2000ft. I did all of my PPL training at 1500-2000ft and most PPLs rarely go above that.”
This is certainly not my experience, being midlands based. Perhaps it is true further south with the increase in CAS. I regularly see micros (3 axis) and gliders (both likely to be non radio or very short range radio and no Xpder) well above 2000 ft. I try to fly above 3000 ft + as it is a bit quieter, but this is probably because it takes some of the older kit a lot of time and fuel to get this high!
Rod1