RAT 5, the point is that the FPP's are not doing their base training in the A321. They have plenty of sectors to fly and land in the A320/319 in the meantime to consolidate their experience before moving on to the larger aircraft. I'm a DEP and have no restrictions on operating the A321 which I thought I had made clear in my above post.
Thrust lever handling is another matter entirely and I agree with you totally. The PM setting reverse is a relic of a bygone age and not at all appropriate any more. There is talk of this SOP changing in the near future but nothing changes quickly in BA.