RF and stuff
Alister, I think that the RF was introduced to prevent persons from training out of a car boot or garden shed type facility. I did my Group D microlight out of one such facility a car boot with a rented house for exams. Ground school was all self study but this was in 1983.
Microlights are a different class to light aircraft and are less regulated. Choose your provider based on knowledge of the industry gained from a wide cross section of people i.e. instructors, students, CFI etc.
This thread has moved away from my intended direction and I think it might be best to close it now.
In short, if you need facts to make a costly decision do not rely on a rumour site even though many facts are shared and much good info is received.
Happy landings, and many of them!