Blue Bandit,
The medical requirements, stupidly, are such that, if you qualify, you will also qualify for a Class 2 medical, making sod all difference between a RPL and a PPL.
There has never been a proper risk management case to justify the RPL limitation, just pluck something out of a hat. As I recall, the NZ gross weight restriction is 2000kg --- and as unjustified as our 1500.
At long last, the US legislation is just about to hit the streets ---- it eliminates the Class 3 (same as our Class 2) for the National Drivers License Standard ( same as RAOz here) and the only limitation will be max. 6000lb and 6 seats and 250 kts.
In other words, this FAA PPL/DL Medical will cover over 90% of all PPL operations.
The yanks were very slow off the mark on this one, (and it is an "industry" initiative) but they are doing a proper job of it, and it is national legislation, not an FAA rule making, so industry/FAA troglodytes will not be able to administratively neuter it, it is part of the second edition of the "Pilot's Bill of Rights" legislation.
Quite a contrast to our "Bill of Wrongs" approach to aviation administration.
Tootle pip!!