While I share the concerns about capability creep, it does make sense to have a trainer that can take the student more into the advanced stages, instead of having them do much of their continuation training on front line (and very expensive) aircraft. Yes you will still have to have type/transition training, but perhaps less of it.
And while the "Red Air" emulator that was linked to the program does not seem to be the current driver, I imagine the thought is still there and helped nudge the requirments up- better to build it in early.