The NPPL was introduced because that's what industry told us they wanted. So we designed a licence which is more affordable than the JAR-FCL PPL and which will meet the needs of many folks. Some will be the 'old men' about whom your 'FI' so rudely and scathingly spoke who wish to remain flying for as long as they can, having now regained the right to enjoy captaining a small aeroplane again. Some will be the struggling youngster who has gained licence allowances for his gliding and perhaps for his microlighting and who can just afford to complete a NPPL with SEP rating - he might one day be able to afford a JAR-FCL PPL, then modular CPL etc. But not right now.
Most of the NPPL criticism stems from the self-interest of the sort of (usually SE England) school which charges £144 per hour for a lesson in a Warrior- and knows full well that NPPL students with some gliding and microlighting under their belts will NOT be doing 45 hours at their establishment.
There are some people who seem to think that every student wants to be a people-tube FO and have forgotten that there are those who just want to fly around the UK for recreation. And that's what our NPPL is all about!
PWP - if I ever find out who that so-called FI was, he'll be sorry.