PPR is just one of those slightly irritating factors in flying that simply have to be endured, certainly in the UK. Irritating not least for the inconsistency of expected method of obtaining "PPR": to one airfield it means by phone before departure, to another it's ok by radio inbound, to a few it's by e-mail or in writing. But basically it's their facility, so their rules.
PPR'ing can still catch you out; on two occasions when visiting fly-ins at the same airfield I rang for PPR before departure, specifically confirming that fuel would be available. On both occasions they had no fuel when I arrived! In all fairness though, after just a little 'encouragement', they did jump through hoops to sort me out with sufficient fuel to get me safely home.