IFMU, I agree your FAR excerpt is more 'spot on' as the original
question was about getting FAA PPL(A), not CPL(A). Just some guys started to talk about CPL add-ons so I floated with the stream.
Naturally, cross crediting is touch pointless as people tend to get PPL(A) when they learned to fly the aircraft well enough. That is usually some hours past 40TT anyway.
AFAIK, it's usually glider pilots who don't have problem to get to required level before FAA mins for PPL(A).
EnglishAl,
That's what I meant in my wee essay. It's about flying the aircraft, especially helis proficiently enough, not what CFR states as doable on a paper.