To be fair I don't have a problem with the club not allowing solo hire until they've seen a license.
Let's consider they believed me when I said my license was on the way (and why should they, I could have lost a license due to medical reasons for all they no) without any logbook or paperwork. So I rent their PA28 and manage to damage it/myself/another aircraft/someone else/combination of the above.
Easily covered by insurance. But what then happens if my license application is subsequently rejected by the CAA? I guess technically I would have been flying without a license which would probably lead to a world of pain witht he insurance company!
But it is frustrating to have to wait for an indeterminate amount of time for someone to check a logbook and a few sheets of paper and print a license off!