To log flight time as a student pilot it has to be countable for something
Try flight experience!
No he cannot because P2 is only countable in a multipilot aeroplane!
All student pilots are P2, and they enter their hrs in P2 Column!
You can take you mate up, do the entire PPL course with hm
Would love to see your entry for lesson 14
Such a student has no status as a crew member therefore must be a passenger.
Not quite, this student is with a QFI and therefore it changes his status.
Not trying to dig in here whopity, but may i quote you!
what you do on a private flight is up to you so long as you don't breach the public transport rules.
Like i said above, only those 2 conditions prevent a training syllabus.
Now if you can show me anything, anywhere, to the contrary, i would be very amazed.