Rick - you say you 'used to fly' the A320/321. The TR which I quoted is new, and applies to all Airbus A320 family aircraft - it may be that your old company has since applied it.
There is nothing to stop a company from continuing to apply a more restrictive MEL, of course, but the MEL is a company document, not a technical specification from the manufacturer. A320 aircraft do not need FDs to do CAT 2/3 autolands.